The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-12-20
Naval Program is Said to Antag-
onize ch-Canadian Ele-
ment and May Cause
Trouble
SIR WILFRID Is ABLE LEADER
Car d ans Have Genius for
Government and Political
Leadership.

Boston, Mass, Dec 20.-A keen OBJ
server of the Canadian affairs says:
Throughout Canada one hears a thou
sand predictions that the political su-
premacy of Sir Wifrid Laurier who
has been supreme in Dominion politics
for fourteen years, is drawing to a
close. Yet Sir Wilfrid may be able 10
stem the tide that is unquestionably
flowing against him and his govern
ment. He holds the destiny of won
derful country in his hands and he will
make a gallant and brilliant fight to
maintain his hold.
'Sir Wilfrid Laurier has shown the
world that French Canadians have
genius for government and political
leadership Of the very rarest and most
valuable kind. Under his premiership
the people of Canada have come to
understand each other better than they
ever did before and a great national
spirit has been fostered among her
people. Laurier's greatest work has
been the fostering and development Of
this sentiment and il is going to bear
fruit long after he has passed away.
The difficulty today however, is
that there is great revolt among
French Canadians at what they are
pleased to call the imperialistic ten
denotes of Sir Wilfrid. Laurier with
out Quebec is as important as Roose-
welt without New York, or Lloyd
George without Wales. The Laurier
government has given to Canada a
great transcontinental railway running
from Halifax to Prince Rupert. and
fully $300,000,000 will be invested In
this enterprise before 1t is finished.
But the building of this new transcon-
tinental line, even at enormous cost.
had the full approval OF the French
Canadians. and they deem Il the great
est work ever done for Canada.
The Laurier government has also
under construction a railroad to Hud-
son bay at the cost of $50, ,000. .OO0 which
will probably be unremunerative for
many decades. But the Hudson Bay
railroad scheme has apparently the
full approval of Quebec The policy,
however. which has transformed null
titudes of French Canadians from
friends to foes of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
is the appropriation of s15.0O0,0OO for
] the purpose of creating a nucleus OF a
I Canadian navy The idea has been
carefully spread and fostered among
French Canadians that this naval poll
icy will involve Canada in grievous
complications all over the world and
that sons of the habitant will be drawn
from the pursuits of their villages and
farms to be slain in some new Trafal-
gar fought by the English against the
Germans or French. Canadians in gem
eral know that the twentieth century
will see Canada grow to a nation of
100, ,000 900 with a vast commerce and
Unparalleled prosperity, but the French
Canadian does not see the duties and
obligations that the expansion of his
country calls for.
There were only 100000 French
Canadians in America when England
conquered Canada 140 years ago but
this race has multiplied so now there
are 100000 of their descendants in
America and they form about half of
Canadas population. In another gem
Grafton or two the wondrous land
stretching from the Great Lakes to the
Rockies and from the Missouri to the
Mckenzie river, will he settled by 90
600, 600 to 30,000,O00 of the most pros
porous farmers and business men Of
! this continent The West and not
, Quebec will dominate the fortunes and
shape the destinies of the Dominion.
While the French Canadians will strive
to perpetuate and hold the influence
which their number entitle them to,
revolt against Laurier's naval policy
, is not promising for French Canadian
dominion. OF course, nobody yet knows
, the true extent of the revolt. 1t is
: widespread and it marks the inability
of many French Canadians to see and
, understand the march of events. Can
ada has a commerce now of $780,
100000 year. and in ten years she
will have a commerce Of $4,000, 600, 900
The need of navy is undoubted. but
at the same time IL Sir Laurier fails "a
hold the French Canadians II is diff
] cult 10 see how he can retain his pres
ent political leadership"