The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-30
FRENCH IN CANADA HOSTILE
BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES PANDER
TO THE SENTIMENT.
Premier Laurier's Colleague, Mr.
Tarte. Outspoken Against I'm
perialism-Laurier' supporters
Urge Mr.. Tarte's Retirement.

Urge Mr.. Tarte's Retirement.
OTTAWA, April ss.-The faith OF the
average loyahst in Canada in the har-
mony supposed to exist between the Eng
-lish and French races in Canada, and in
the loyalty of the latter to imperial in
terests, is liable to be somewhat rudely
shaken before peace is declared in South
Africa The political developments of the
past few days all tend to show that the
leaders of both political parties in the
Dominion are convinced that the wide
divergence of opinion between these two
nationalities upon the important ques.
uons which the war has called UP, can
never be bridged. French Canada is I'M
compromisingly opposed TO any move
calculated to strengthen the extremely
slender political tie which binds this
country to the motherland This senti-
ment has grown so pronounced In the
province of Quebec, of late. that 1t has
compelled the Conservative party In Can
ada to formulate a new policy to meet
popular opinion in that province. Dur
ing the Easter parliamentary recess Sir
Charles upper visited Quebec and Mon
treal. and In both of these cities. at ban
quets given in his honor. he announced
that the policy of Conservatives. IL
abolish the one-sided British preference
OF the Laurier administration and en-
deavor to bring about an inter-imperial
mutual preference In trade matters be-
tween Great Britain and her colonies;
that Conservatives were now opposed to
imperial federation. and that any scheme
providing for regular contribution by
Canada to the defense of the empire would
not be supported by a Conservative gov
eminent. Hitherto. Sir Charles Tup-
per has been an ardent imperialist. but
as Quebec province is the pivotal prov
ince upon the turn OF which the result OF
the coming general elections largely de-
Ponds, and az French Canadians are bit.
terly hostile to military imperialism or
I'm fact, Imperialism in any FORM II has
been deemed expedient to adopt n line OF
action which would secure the party al
legiance OF French Conservatives. Hence
the declaration of the new policy referred
to has been made for the benefit of Que
bee alone, but in Ontario and the other
English-speaking provinces the campaign
against the Liberal government as be-
ing the enemy OF Imperialism. which was
begun last fall. is still being carried on.
Two Parties-One Motive.
Both the Liberal and Conservative
parties. however. seem to be actuated by
the same motive In pandering to anti
British sentiment in Quebec. both are
port and both only serve to widen the
gulf which separates the two races In
Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier's imperial
ism has been too plainly and frequently
manifested to be questioned: but his coll
leagues and compatriot. MFR. Tarte min
lister of public works represents the
anti-imperialist group and reflects the
tone of French public opinion in Canada.
His most recent statements at Paris. ex-
pressive of anti-British sentiment. have
created no little CONSERVATION this week
among the members Of the government
and their supporters. In an interview
there upon the attitude of the French
Canadians In regard to the war, Mr..
Tarte gives correct exhibit to the peo-
pie of France OF the popular sentiment
animating the French In Canada In their
relations toward the British crown. He
informed the people OF old France that
II French Canadians were loyal II was
simply from reasons of policy and that
90 per cent of them were opposed 10
England's course in the South African
war, and that he himself was OF the opin-
ion that the money spent in euuipping
and maintaining the Canadian contin-
gents might have been expended more
usefuly elsewhere. AT the request OF
Mr.. Chamberlain he said. "the Cana
dian government sent troops 10 South
Africa without the authority of the peo-
pie. against which protested vigorously.
French-Canadians are loyal to Britain.
because they are Obliged TO be go for
social and economic reasons. Canada Is
mulch more French today than IT was
thirty years ago. and II the tide OF immi-
grafton were to he directed elsewhere
the French-Canadians might recover
the majority" He further declared that
he entirely disapproved the action OF the
Dominion government in regard to the
contingents. and that all the French press
IN his province was obliged 90 humiiate
itself before England.
want Tarse Put Out.
Government supporters. the majority of
whom have always deprecated the contin-
uancs OF Mr.. Tarte as an adviser 20 the
representative of her majesty in Canada.
arc alarmed as 20 the effect these state
ments will have upon the English elector-
ate In the dominion. and are urging the
necessity % Mr.. Tartes retirement
from the cabinet. Friends OF the govern
mont plainly foresee that Mr.. Tarte's I'M
guarded utteyanrea must incense the peo-
pie Of Ontario. and result In the estrsngc-
ment Of liberal support In that province
unless ne retires from the ministry.
The efforts Of the Canadian government
10 arrange a system of reciprocal trade
relations between the dominion and the
island Of Trinidad have proved TO he en-
ffreiy Sruitlees. mainly because or me
preference 81 tho Legislature % that island
for closer trade relations with the United
States. The official statement lust made
by the dominion government shows that
the island has decided by n two-thirfs
vote Of It's legislature that the offer 81 the
United States would he OF greater adj
vantage 10 the island than almost any
thing Canada could possibly give. The
convention with The United States way
therefore ratified on that vote. The Trim
idad delegates in their report cay that
the irs per ren; reduction from the Tste1
states with the advantage ~ the counter
waiting duties the nearne~s ~ and the
unlimited extent ~ the American market,
as COMPARED with the small market pro-
,l2ed rs Canada. showed that trade
iatiors with the United states were far
more 70 be desired thar with Canada
Asvless from the bahamas aisa 70 TO
show that the trade policy ~ that Brit