The Irish standard., 1907-07-06
FRENCH GAINS IN CANADA.
James Baugh, an Englishman, wri

view, apparently deplores the fact that
the French Canadians are gradually
driving the English from the province
of Quebec and the border counties of
Ontario. New Brunswick, Novia SEQ
tia and Prince Edward Island. Can
ada Is usually looked upon as an Eng
ltsh colony, settled by Englishmen.
while as matter of fact there are in
Canada two distinct races, languages
and faiths. The French Canadian, like
his brother Frenchman in France, is
thrifty individual, but he differs from
the Partisan Frenchman in the size
OF his family. Quebec has always been
more French than English and it is
becoming more French every year.
The English Canadians are leaving
Quebec and giving it up to the
French. Quebec is now thoroughly
French and Catholic and its people are
pushing out into the neighboring pro-
vinces. buying up the land formerly
owned by English speaking people and
making out of Eastern Canada a new
France. The sturdy French farmers
are doing over again the work of the
early French explorers. They are re-
gaining for the French race the terri
tory which belonged by right of dis
covery exploration and settlement
more than three hundred years ago to
France. There is no disposition on
their part to be disloyal to the SOW
ereignty of England. The present
conquest is one of race, language and
religion.
Mr.. Baugh says "'The English
speaking press of Canada sometimes
deplores the fact that the English
speaking farmer and businessman has
been compelled by the unsynpathetic
attitude Of the French Canadian to
abandon his land and business stands
and seek more congenial environ
ment elsewhere. In this way nearly
all that vast region of Incompatible
ern Townships is being vacated by the
English to go into the possession Of
the French. We cannot censure the
French Canadian for this result. Such
a result was Inevitable. The heter-
ogeneous mass OF English speaking
people. had nothing in common but
hat Ia, Ia ~o
adian moves forward in united and
solid phalanx Of irresistible force of
language. faith and patriotism. Yet
he has always paid a fair if not a
generous price for the Englishman's
land and the question has been asked.
where does he get the money to buy
quarter of a province?" Some have
answered that the rich church corpor-
atoms, of Montreal and Quebec furnish
the money at low rate Of interest and
that with this money the French Can
adam is supplanting the English far
ner wherever it is possible to do so
in the province of Quebec. This is
only an incident Of the peaceful evo-
luton Of a nation. 1t is now fire.
quently stated that in two or three
will be found in Quebec outside of
the cities and large towns. This is
probably true prediction. With the
solid and homogeneous province of
Quebec. and the border counties Of
Ontario. New Brunswick. Nova SEQ
tia and Prince Edward Island. the
French Canadian will certainly be in
a very good position not only to con-
troll their own destiny. but that of the
remaining part of Canada also. Is it
possible to divert him and Illustrate or
thwart his designs and aspirations?
think not. The Presbyterian church
has made strenuous efforts to Evan
gelize him and has failed lamentably
and unless science and secular educa-
| ton undermine his faith and religion
he will remain steadfast in the faith
of his fathers. The paternal attitude
Of the church and hierarchy of the
province toward labor is one Of solicit
tude and Cancellation. To such a de-
gree has the church manifested her
interest in this movement that it has
been said she has canonized labor.
Be that as it may. Labor Day has as
sun1ed the character of religious fete
| in the province of Quebec
The writer might have given other
reasons for the onward march Of the
French in Canada. They are not at
fected by the virus of race suicide or
divorce. There are few French Can
adam families in which there are not
at least a half dozen children.
Mr.. Baugh seems to think 1t worthy
Of comment that the Presbyterian
church has failed miserably in its at
tempt to Evangelize the French Cath
Ollie. Why should the Presbyterian
|