The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-03
MONUMENT TO MONTGOMERY.
Continued Tory Opposition in Cana
da to the Project.


da to the Project.
QUEBEC, Sept. 2.-The continued efforts
of the old Tory. party in Canada to stir up
feelings of unfriendliness between the peo-
pie of Canada and the United States is
illustrated by constantly recurring and
quite uncalled-for attacks upon the pro-
posal to erect a monument in Quebec to
the memory of Brigadier General Mont
gomery, who lost his life here in an at
tack upon the fortress of Quebec with
Benedict Arnold on the morning of Deem
Der g. 1775. From the moment that it
appeared that there was opposition on the
part of some of the Canadian people to
the erection of the monument there has
never been the slightest attempt on the
Part of those who proposed it. and were
ready to supply the funds. to force its ac-
ceptanee upon the people of Quebec. So
/ fas as they were concerned they quietly
allowed the matter to drop, on the ground
/ that they were not at all inclined to force
any gift upon community that even a
small proportion OF such community did
not appreciate. Never rtheless, they are
con family assailed by critics of their for
me. offer in the most unjust and ungen-
erous fashion.
In the very last printed volume of the
proceedings of the Royal Society of
Canada Just issued from the press. there
Is a false iEsinuation as well as arother
attack upon the proposal. The report of
the council of the society says:
The attempt that has been made
within a year or two to obtain permis-
sion to place in the city OF Quebec a
monument in honor of Brigadfer General
! Montgomery has not been renewed In the
face of the determined opposition that il
has properly evoked from all true Cana
dians. especially from the women Of the
Dominion. We find nothing in Canadian
I history, or in the character or services OF
this soldier to justify our encouragement
of the proposed memorial. On the con-
trary. 1t would be a positive desecration
OF Canadian soil, and the justification of
treachery on fhe part OF an English so,-
der who had even served with Wolfe, and
Of the invasion of Canada by the forcss
of Continental Congress, who had only
a short time previously insulted the re-
Iigion of the French Canadians in an al
dress to the British people
This extract will serve to show that th>
basest passions and prejudices are still be-
ing appealed TO for the purpose of pro-
noting Canadian hatred of American in
stitulions. There can be no other reason
for the publication of the insulting para
graph for it is absolutely untrue that ap-
plication for permission to erect :he monu-
ment has ceased 10 be persisted in because
OF the determined opposition to it. No per-
mission but that Of the civic authorities
was ever needed. and this was freely and
gladly accorded directly it was asked, when
the offer to erect 1t was made, now sew
eral years ago. No permission was ever
required or asked from the Canadian Gov
ernment or from the carping critics who
oppose the erection of the monument,
There is nothing in the laws of Canada to
prevent anybody from purchasing a lot OF
land and erecting whatever respectable
memorial to departed worth he may desire
and there was nothing in the opposition TO
the monument of sufficient Importance to
! warrant the dropping of the project, be-
yond the fact that those who were pre-
| pared to lay out money to commemorate
the death of brave soldier. on the spot
where he fell. declined to force their gift
| upon a community which contained some
| unwilling recipients. Should they at any
| time decide to erect the monument in
Quebec. they may do so despite beth the
Government of the Dominion and the Royal
| Society of Canada for they have in their
| possession the certificate OF the vote of the
| City Council of Quebec duly signed and
| bearing the city SEAL and conveying the
| necessary permission for honoring the
memory Of the brave American general.
| very lille Oh Lne opposition 10 the
| monument comes from Quebec where
| Montgomery's memory is held in high es-
| TEEN, especially among the large Irish
| element of the population. In fact, it
| was Quebec irishman who placed in it's
| present position the board sign on the
| face of Cape Diamond. indicating the spot
| below where the brave leader fell. and
| the calling him a traitor by the Royal
| Society has no more effect than u the
| same term were applied to Washington.
| In fact. there is Tory element in Canada,
| in Ontario particularly, that would gladly
| inculcate in the Canadian mind the idea
| that the authors of the American Revo-
| luton were traitors to Britain, notwith-
| standing the lapse of century and a
quarter from the event.
With such malignity is Montgomery's
memory now being besmirched In Canada
that some historians are holding him re-
sponsible for the cruelties practised upon
the French Canadians of st. Anne. st.
Joachim. and other parishes near Quebec,
by the barbarous Capt. Alexander Mont
gomery. of the Forty-third Regiment. But
the facility with which some Canadians
distOrt the history of their own country is
| not surprising when it Is borne in mind
that Dr. &ingsford, who was recognized as
the national historian of the Dominion, has
committed the unaccountable bunder OF
changing the very date of Montgomery's
attack on Quebec and heroic DEATH placing
IL upon January l. I?76, when not only has
BENJAMIN Franklin in his epitaph of the
general given fhe date as December 81,
1875, but the same is proved to be correct
for all time by the letter to Congress OF
Benedict Arnold written from Quebec on
December 81, 1775. the day of the battle.