The sun., 1907-08-25

What was the condition Of French or
Lower Canada in the dozen years follow
ing the Peace OF Paris 1853, which con-
frmed the conquest begun by Wolfe at
Quebec? A mass Of tenant farmers. the
French habitants. formed the basis Of the
population These were descendants Of
colonists largely Norman--sent over by
Louis XIV and Of women persuaded later
~ come over and marry them. Theirs
was a tough healthy stock, we'll purged
of weaklings by the hard conditions of
existence, full OF Gallic vivacity. and by
no means destitute Of Gallic charm. yet not
without some little faults. Book learning
they wofully lacked Their air of ease con-
cealed n poverty without a parallel In the
other provinces OF British North America.
After the British conquest. however. the
country began to prosper. The commercial
instincts of the British newcomers impaired
fresh impulse. BY i77i not only was Lower
Canada self-sufficng in respect Of food
supplies but 400. 900 bushels OF wheat could
he exported annually. Toward the British
Government the mass Of the habitants
felt only submissive. As late as 1873 a
Lieutena mt Governor pronounced them
-tractable and submissive" The purpose
of the British to treat them fairly was ap-
preciated. and they realized that under
the new regime they were relatively we'll
of. Such was the attitude OF a great ma
jority of the Canadian farmers. and OF the
French common people OF the towns
Another section of the conquered popula-
tion. however. stood sharply apart from
the habitants This was the noblesse or
gentry. The feudal system had been es-
tablisbed in New France by Richelieu, and
some officers of French regiment
disbanded in Canada reinforced by
patented aristocrats and later COM
ing officers. formed the noblesse. "A
time went on many Of these mobiles
fell into the direst poverty. Upon this
noblesse the British conquest dealt its
heaviest blows. On the one side il put an
end to military employment and on the
other it anntlled all authority over the in
habitants. who previously had been subject
to various feuda obligations.
The Catholic Church in Canada had simi-
lar reasons TO regret the changed state of
things. Under the French regime it had
been singularly exalted, now il was as sig
nally humbled. In the early days both
Quebec and Montreal had been theocra ces
On the other hand since the British con-
quest the proud Church lay at the feet of a
hereto. Instead of setting up and throw
ing down at its will Governors. Intendants
and councils it had to walk softly before
a Protestant King, himself the head OF the
Church in Canada. as in all British domin-
ions Instead OF Illuminating from the rock
of Quebec like a new Pope from a new Rome.
the Bishop felt happy TO plead that under
the Captulation of Montreal and the Treaty
of Peace he could lay claim TO the modest
boon of federation. No doubt the British !
Government dealt from the outset kindly |,
with the Catholic Church in Canada. and !
Prof. Smith points out that the higher |
clergy and country priests were grateful as |
well as obedient. Yet, of course, Protestant |
rule could not be relished.
The germs Of revolt lay in the natural |
irrcpressible friction between two very |
different races; in the inevitable discord, |
however concealed temporarily between
conquered and conquerors; in the bitter
ness Of a dethroned priesthood: in the
desperation of penniless artist ocrats; in the
unpredictable impulses Of a people pre-
viously oppressed discovering suddenly
that they were free; in the mutual contempt
Of mobiles and traders; in the mutual mis-
understanding between the relatively well
informed British Governor and the ignorant
British public al home; in the reciprocal
distrlst of Protestants and Roman Catholics,
and in the keen antipathes between the
military and the mercantile members OF
the community. These would seem to
have been explosives enough. yet Prof.
Smith points out that the reel illuminate
N Canada was something else. The royal
proclamation of 1893 had announced that
popular government would be set up and
that 20 this end an Assembly would be
summoned. England seems to have given
this pledge to Canada principally for the
purpose Of inducing Brit sh citizens to
take up a residence there. The promise
was not kept Or~ author shows that
there we're good reasons for the rupture Of
the royal word Canada belonged mainly
10 Catholics, who under British law could
neither hold Office nor vote. Gov Carle-
tons estimate oe their number, I5O, 900, is
pronounced too high: but IL they were
20 900. against some 2 0O0 British. the estimate
made in 1880, one can understand why
three British Governors in succession
should have looked upon the former az
entitled to the first consideration. To
admit these Catholics, however, to an
Assembly would shock British prejudices.
destroy British safeguards and place British
residents in Canada under the rule OF French
men and "Papists" recently conquered
by force Of arms; while TO exclude the latter
would excite and perhaps justify their
fears Of oppression. To avoid the dificulty
ii was suggested that while Protestants
alone should be eligible for membership
in the Legislature Catholics might be
allowed TO vote for them; but Solicitor
General Wedderburp thought that were
TINS franchise given to all Catholics he
noblesse would be offended. while we're H.
not the Assembly would fail to be repre-
sentative In short, IL seemed practically
impossible to carry out the conditional
promise OF 1893.
It was not the French Canadians but the
British residents who protested vehemently
sganst the n-convocation Of an as
sembly. Race and habit prompted then,
to demand a real voice in public affairs.
without 1t they deemed their property and
their personal rights exposed tc arbitrary
ordinances. They kept up an agitation
Tor concession TO themselves Of the same