Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-05-13

The following extracts are taken
from an excellent paper read before
the Camillus Reading Circle at its last
meeting, by the Rev. Father R. F. Har-
lis, OF ST. Joscph's Cathedral:
At Port Royal, not far from the
present city of Annapolis, in Nova
Scotia, France founded its first perma-
nent settlement in, North America.
Disease, opposition from the savages,
the length and severity of winters,
and the violent storms which sweep
that region, rendered many previous
attempts at colonization by the same
nation abortive. In 1908 the obstacles
arising from climate and location
were overcome by the sturdy determin-
alton of few patriotic Frenchmen.
A beginning once effected, the kings
of France expended much wealth, hop
ing to convert the heather and 10
build up a powerful dependency by
the mouth of the St Lawrence.
After century of disputed dominion
little was accomplished toward the
colonization scheme beyond dissemin-
ating some insecure and struggling
settlements over vast extent of ter
ritory fuctUated with almost every
reverse and success of the Colonists'
arms. The Kennebec, the Penobscot,
the st. Croix, and even the st. John
set its limits by turns. After repeated
struggles it embraced. with some per-
manence, Nova Scotia, the islands of
Prince Edward and Cape Breton, and
New Brunswick 1t is probable that
this immense tract Of land, together
with the islands, was known by the
name of Acadia, though the French
government afterwards contended that
In spite of continual war the labors
Of the missionaries were crowned with
great success; but the efforts of the
Colonists were foiled at every step by
the opposition of the Puritans. Eng
land and France were hereditary RI
walls, and the old national antipathy
intensified by religious hatred, was
revived by their sons in the forests
and on the rivers and seas of the New
Continent.
Acadia more vulnerable than Cana5-
da, and more coveted because cAn-
handing the fisheries and the aXenue
to the Atlantic, became the None Of
contention between the riya1 crowns.
On the slightest pretexX the people
Of Massachusetts Bay fitted out hos
Tile ornaments to digpute the claims,
Or to chastise the. Bfetensions, of the
French, The rafages of these organic
ed expedltloRs, and the constant
scourge oI2glish pirate vessels, de-
prlved Acadians of all hope of
peace 1ecurity.
Icy were kept in unceasing appre-
/hension for their very lives. Indeed
the destruction of their little settle
Aents was of such frequent occur
renee that. like the bird of fable. they
may be said to have risen again and
again from their own ashes. Thus the
gold which annually poured out of
France for their relief was wasted
in building forts and procuring the
equipments of war
In extenuation of their implacable
hostility the Puritans had one unfail-
Ing plea to urge in defence of their
cruelties, viz, that Acadia belonged
to England by right of discovery. This
visionary claim was founded on the
probability that a Venetian, named
Cabot, sailing under the British flag,
touched the shores of Newfoundland
as early as 1893.
The arrival of Sir Edward Cornwall
lis in 1749 was the Inauguration of
changes disastrous to the Inflated
Acadians. Henceforward they receiv-
ed government protection with a
vengeance. Their numbers and sub
/. stance had increased marvelously in
the interval Instead of the narrow
cfearingsIof 1713 the forest had YIELD
ed to he axe far UP the hill-sides,
presenting extensive meadows to view,
and the ocean was shut out from
broad acres of rich alluvial soil by
huge bikes, like those of the Neither
lands. Their fields were covered with
toclls and herds, and produced every
variety of grain and vegetable. The
population had increased to 1900.
1t would seem that some years pre-
vious to this rumors of alleged dis
affection on the part of the Arcadians
had reached London through the Gov
errors of Port Royal and Massachus-
etts. A few were caught in arms as
sisting the enemy. Moreover the
English affected to question the sin
certify of their allegiance on account
Of the form of oath which they had
catken, and no threats or induce
ments could influence them to
take the one required of English
subjects. AS the wording of this oath
apparently furnished the tombstone
Of future quarrel between the two
races, it is as well to give it verbatim
We sincerely promise and swear
by the faith Of Christians, that we
shall be entirely faithful and will truly
submit ourselves to his Majesty Kline
George, whom We acknowledge as Sow
ereign Lord of New Scotland, or Ar
cadia. So God help US"
BY this compact they were exempted
from the duty OF bearing arms. either
against the French or Indians, and
allowed full freedom of religious wor-
| ship. By reason of these exemptions
\ they are known in history as the
Neutral French"
The king was not satisfied with neu-
0trality. CORVALLIS, therefore, sent a
paranopfpry ordar 70 ho %.