The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-09
1Ae ADVERTISERS
 V HOME STUDY CIRCLE

as well. If the European relations of France and England had been anica- ble 1t is probable commercial rivalry, involving territory. would still have brought on conflict in America. The reasons for English victory are to be found in the differing conditions of the two colonial enterprises, both as to people and as to government, and in the overwhelming numerical superb ority of the English, the latter num- bering some 1.5oO.000 whites along the Atlantic seaboard. to some S0,000 French in Canada and Louisiana.
 It is unnecessary, if 1t wers possible tc rehearse the story of English colo nization in America to show the spirit and material of the newly forming empire. The French colonization has an equally interesting story, and in many aspects far more romantic. The tolls and sufferinss of Carter and Champlain, of Marquette and La Sale thrill us in the glowing pages of Parkman. But while we reverence the devotion of the Jesuit and admire the intrepidity of the explorer we are amazed at the incompetence of the rank and lie of the colonists and at the mistakes of their government. Two totally different spirits animated the French and the English settlers. The latter were sturdily independent and industrious, and while they were always in earnest about a living and a little more than a living if possible there were some things more precious to them than ease and comfort. They had religious and political Ideals. Moreover, the English colonists were in many respects the pick of their native land The French colonists had no initiative. They either were com pelled or hired by their government to emigrate. Once here they were dis posed to replyson a paternal administra- ton to direct them in all things and to extricate them from all difficulties. It is not thus that an empire is founded on a permanent basis. But the relatively few energetic men among the French, and especially their lead CTS, were eager for territory and for trade. Inevitably they came into con- flict with the no less ambitious. though plodding English.
 "A view of the possesisons of the Eng fish. French and Spanish in North America up to the seven years war will be helpful From Maine to Georgia in- elusive and from the ocean to the watersheds of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi was English: the val leys of these two rivers were FrSnch by right of exploration and partial. set clement; west of that, and as far north as California was Spanish.
 The inevitable conflict came on, and step by step the French were forced back and off the ground. The wars were at first largely carried on by the colonists themselves. The years 16s9- 1897 were marked by the Indian raids under French suggestion upon New York and New England. Port Royal was captured by the colonists. but the treaty of Ryswick gave 1t back to France The war of the Spanish sue cession Q709-17t3) led to series of bloody skirmishes on American soil. New Enslanders captured Port Royal but failed to take Quebec. The treaty of Utrecht gave to England Hudson s bay and strait, Newfoundland and Acadia. The war of the Austrian succession resulted in the capture by the New Englanders of Louisburg' which the peace of 174s gave back to France. But though they lost the prize they had learned their own strength. Swords had been crossed with colonial France and colonial Eng land had won.
 Last of all came the seevn years. or French and Indian, war. from 1756 to 17e3. We remember Baddock's defeat near Fort DuQuesne. But the tide turned after some bitter lessons had been learned. Fort DuQuesne became Pittsburg, in honor of the great states man, Pitt, and the Ohio valley was open to the English. The fall Of Fort Niagara gave them control of the pas sage to the great lakes. Louisburg fell and on the Heights of Abraham the fate of Quebec and of Canada was sealed in the blood of Wolfe and coun- tersigned in that of Montcalm. The battle of Quebec wasa turning point in history. It affected not merely the future of America, but 1t set England ahead in the great world race with France. It meant for North America, perhaps for all mankind, the triumph of individualism and local self-govern- ment over centralization and of Teuto- mic over Latin ideals.
 The peace of Paris in 1763 changed the maps once more. All Canada of course became English; also all the eastern half of the Mississippi basin except the Isle d'Orleans. now the southeastern part of Louisiana, which contained /the city of New Orleans. This latter tract, together with all the western half of the Mississippi val ley. the French gave to the Spanish to atone In some measure for the losses in- to which the French had led them. Among other captures the English had taken Havana from Spain in 1762. This the Spanish bought back by the ces- sioa of Florida to the English. Thus everything east of the Mississippi save New Orleans passed from France and Spain to England.
 The political effects of the great war were almost equal to the geographical The English pioneers were now free from border wars, at least with civil lized foes. The colonists had learned their own military strength, to work together. and to respect each other. There was yet no political confedera- tion. But the war had wrought a moral one and was a grand prepara- tion of the revolutionary struggle.
 (CODVriRht 1Q00