Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-18

parliament, kindled the fires of hope in
every tory bosom.
At mattered not that they. the conserva-
tives, made supreme virtue of imperial
loyalty and that
Nationalist Party the defeated lib
to Decide Election. owed his dis
aster to the fact that he was considered
10 be too loyal--the only thing the poll
ticians thought Of was that Laurier was
losing his hold on Quebec, and that
after all the tories might be able to
come back into power.
If it had not been for the hope in
spred by this one nationalist victory the
conservative opposition in parliament
probably would have offered only per-
functory opposition to the reciprocity
pact. and il would now be law. But
the result in Drummond and Arthabaska
gave them courage. Mr.. Borden saw
the premiership within his grasp. and
therefore the opposition filibustered
against reciprocity, forced the govern
ment to dissolve parliament and to bring
on the election.
As the nationalist party precipitated
this election, SO. also. ii probably Will
decide it, If Laurier and the liberals are
defeated it probably will be by virtue
of the ~ationalist movement. although
the nationalists may not return as many
AS half A dozen members to Ottawa.
Although the nationalist movement had
its inception in the French opposition to
the Laurier naval policy. its present scope
is much broader. The nationalists ann
at complete autonomy for Canada within
the British empire. although confeSSins
to the ultimate hope of entire indcpend-
ence. They oppose everything and every
body that is imperiaiiStc. They do not
believe that Canada needs either an army
or navy. and they are opposed to taxing
the people for military purposes.
x x
things the nationalist party in Canada
stands for tho
Stand for French French Ian
Laws and Religion. laws French
customs and French religion, as against
the English language, English laws, Eng
lish customs and English religion. 1t is
national in name but racial in spirit.
In an interview a few months ago Mr..
Bourassa, the acknowledged leader of the
party, said: in fifteen ycars-even be-
fore that time comcs-thc eastern prov
inces-Quebec. Ontario, Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick-all will have become
French in language 1t certainly can
not be said that Mr.. Bourassa is pes
simist
Henri BouraSsa. the founder and domi-
mating spirit of the nationalist party, is
the grandson of Louis Joseph Papineau,
who i'm 1857 led the rebellion in Quebec
f,iln IF tic RI
independent French republic. but which
did bring about self-government in Cana
da Bouras sa has been always identified
with the liberal party, and in his early
political career was supporter OF Lau-
rier He has preferred to exercise his
talents i'm the field of provincial rather
than Of federal politics, and for several
years has been free lance or ''insnr-
gent liberal member of the provincial
legislature of Quebec. In directing his
nationalist propaganda in the federal
field he has preferred to send his lieu
tenants to the front and to keep himself
in the background.
With perhaps the single exception OF
Sir Wilfrid Laurier,s Mr.. Bourassa is the
most engaging
Bourassa Ranks personality in Ca
Next to Laurier Assn orator No,
even Sir Wifrid surpa sscs him. and,
be it known. Sir Wi'frid is one of
the greatest of living orators. BouraSsa,
like Sir Wilfrid, possesses the rare gift
OF clouuence in two tongues, and if the
nationalist leader is consuming fame
when he speaks in French he is q column
of fire in English
flo. hn tna1- in.
trade of the nationalists. In spite of the
fact that the naval service bill provided
for voluntary enlistment only and in
spite of the fact that this feature of the
bill was carefully explained by Sir WEI
frid i'm the opening speech of the naval
debate. the nationalist orators. not only
in Drummond and ArthabaSka. but AL
over F'rench-speakinS Canada have
painted the terrors of Consumption in col
ors so bold that only a notation can
give an adequate idea of them. Said
one speech which was circulated in pam
phlet form:
I'm twenty years the recruiting office,
will come to your homes and will say 10
your wives: Mother, YOU count on your
son to make YOU happy in your old years.
YOU expect him to protect You in yotif
old age. but YOU are mistaken. The law
passed i'm 1910 by the l.aurier government
robs yon of your children. and | shall
carry away thy son with me.
This will take :n..ao to coco men
fathers of families or young men on the
point of so becoming. who viii have To
go to JaIan. China or Oreania under
the command OF English officers. who
wishing to make our race disappear, VII
see to it that these ships go to the bot
tom of the sea. The English have never
done anything for the French Canadians
we owe them nothing. Those who disem-
boWeled your fathers on the plains OF
Abraham ask YOU today to go and get
killed for them
Scarcely less radical was the state.
ment made by Mr.. Bourassa himself