The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-02
SENTIMENT N CANADA
rRENCH CANADIANS HOSTILE n
BRITIsH RULE rHHRE.

FRENCH CANADIANS HOSTILE TO
BRITIsH RULE rHHRD.
The Pxevincs of Quebec, which IL
Their stronwho1d, wants the Es-
tablfshment Of an independent
state-Other Provinoes Loyal.
Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer
OTTAWA. Jan. Lone grave result to
Canada Of the war In South Africa, which
Is now making itself manifest, IL that
Of arousing all tho latent hostility TO
British rule In Canada that has long been
growing among the French population IN
Quebec province. The recent mutterings
Of O possible Angio-F'rench conflict have
also served to aggravate anti-British sem
timent there, and to strengthen the desire
among French Canadians for the fnde-
pendence of Canada. The dream OF the
great majority OF French Canadians IL
not now that Of erecting new France
on the banks OF the st. Lawrence, but 1t
IL that Of establishing another indepen-
dent state on tho continent of America
Not only Is the agitation for Canadian
Independence promoted and strengthened
In Quebec by the war, but the Conserve
tive party In Canada Is industriously ex-
plotting the situation to further its party
aims. The strength Of the Lauricr admin
istration II mainly dependent upon the
Liberal support contributed by the prov
ince Of Quebec. The action OF the gov
eminent In sending troops to assist En-
gland In the Transvaal Is bitterly con-
demned and opposed by nearly all the
French journals and by majority OF
the leaders Of both political parties in the
province. while. on tho other hand. the
great province Of Ontario IL aflame with
loyalty and imperialism. The racial cry
Is being raised. and Il daily growing
stronger ana louder among the English
speaking people Of the Dominion In conse-
quence. This uniooked-for condition of
things has placed Premier Laurier upon
the horns of a serious dilemma. Sir
Charles Upper and other Conservative
leaders have not been slow to seize the
opportunity ana make political capital out
OF the new diffculties which now sur
round and threaten disaster to the present
Liberal government
The dispatch OF the second Canadian
contingent to South Africa, and the pos
sibility Of more contingents to follow. Is
exciting increased rebellion against the
government In the province Of Quebec.
Anti-Brftish sentiment is no longer re-
pressed. but finds vent in urfmistakable
language through the columns Of the
French press. and by the public utter
ances OF French members of parliament
and leaders OF public opinion on both sides
Of politics in that province. While II may
be unreasonable to expect Frenchmen to
be as enthusiastic over the wars Of Brit
ain as are Canadians Of British descent.
1t Is, nevertheless, not difficult to deter
mine the real sentiment in Quebec with
regard to the present CRISIS So deeply
imbued Is the French-Canadian popuia-
ton with the idea Of an ultimate inde-
pendence OF this country that not few
consider the time about ripe for It,
This idea IL voiced in recent letter
from d. Monet, M. p, to the press Of
Montreal He writes: For my part, I
am opposed to all contribution to the
wars OF the empire outside OF Canada,
and will oppose It In the commons IL 7
am member at its next session. 1t is
not because am French Canadian that
I take this attitude. I do not make 1t
question of sentiment; and / would use
the same language II we were French
colonists. do not wish to spend one cent
to bind any closer the bonds-except the
Great Britain: We have almost nothing
In common with the old continent I am
2 Canadian. and my ideal is to see Canada
20 soon as II viii be sufficiently developed
by the vitality Of its population and the
immensity OF It's natural resources" Mr..
Monet, as well as Mr.. Bourassa. M. p,
who has alreaedy acted upon HIS protest
against aiding Britain by resigning his
seat In parliament. is among the ablest
Quebec. And now another French mem
Der OF parliament MI. Chauyin, is heard
99an tsoops e ala hs endnS h Of Game
yaal war. At public meeting held at
st. Jerome. Que, Mr.. Chauvin said that
he knew. the electors would approve when
gle In parliament against imperialism and
against imperial federation, military or
political. with, England. AT the same
m nrsin hen. e. 4; Mhantel minister Of
same strain, and strongly denounced the
imperialism which, he said, Lord Minto
ana Gen. Hutton Hutton were trying to fasten
The. French newspapers are not less
strongly and emphatically outspoken in
anti. British sentiment. L'Evenement, the
city, says that the Anglo-Boer war is
unjust, and that IT was provoked for spec
nlative ends by the ambitious Chamber
great violence. asks: rs It necessary for
slaves in order to prove their ioya aHe to to
a the Rngsh IN Gana ass Ms
mistress (England), espouse all her quar-
her enemies guns. applaud her damnabie
army suffers defeat?' In Quebec the
Tor the independence Of c Canada. and am In
Ontario and other lEnglish-speaking prov
inces It is for closer union with the Brit
Ism nds r1sns5 bLaaurer therefore
tinguishable fires. either OF which may
eventually consume him and his govern
ment The policy of the Conservative par
the evil should the fickleness Of popular
opinion dethrone Sir Wilfrid Laurier and