Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19

What insurgency" is to politics in the
United States that is the Nationalist
movement to politics in Canada. the
of Canada and the insurgents,
of the United States have little or moth
ing in common as far as their doctrines
and opinions are concerned. but their re-
the two countries arc markedly similar
Those persons in Canada who desire the
overthrow OF the liberal party, which has
been in power for fifteen years. say that
nationalism will defeat the liberals at the
next general election in Canada. Just as
insurgency weakened and defeated the
republican party in the congressional
elections last November.
AS it's name indicates, the nationalist
movement has for it's prime object the
matchmaking of Canada and its complete
freedom from the influence OF imperial
politics. An American mind insists In
projecting this program to its logical end
of complete independence for Canada,
but the nationalist leaders deny that they
seek Independence. and proclaim loudly
their loyalty to the British flag. Many
of the nationalists in the ranks are not,
however, SO discreet, and they are MAX
ing the woods of Quebec ring with their
denunciations OF Great Britain.
The nationalist leaders say that they
have no intention of forming distinct
political party-they aim at the capture
of both liberal and conservative organi-
cations. But because the liberals are in
power the fury of their agitation is
launched particularly against the liberals.
1t is characteristic of the natural course
of politics that the conservatives, who
claim that they are the only truly loyal
Brltons in Canada. are willing to work
with the nationahsts, who are almost re-
bellious, in order to strike a blow at the
liberal supremacy.
The leaders OF the nationalist movement
are Henri Bourassa, who protests that
he is a liberal
French Canadians and f. D.
Monk, who sits
Foes of the Premier. in parliament
as a conservative. Both men are French
Canadians. both are from Quebec. and
both are the sworn enemies of Sir Will
frid Laurier. who has disappointed many
of his French kinsmen by his failure
to make their local quarrels national
questions.
hazy in its program, and the declaration
of it's principles may mean much or lit
tie. However, 1T grew out of the dispute
on the naval question, and is, therefore,
vital problem. for it strikes at the very
root of the relations of Canada ITO the
British empire.
According to Henri Bourassa, leader
of the nationalist. and perhaps the most
eloquent man in North America, the ma
tionalist movement aims at finding "a
common ground for all Canadians, and
that common ground can be found only
i'll looking to the development of all
our Canadian forces. mental. moral and
material. You cannot, for Instance, get
all Canadians to agree in their views as
regards Great Britain, but you may get
all Canadians to agree on the building up
of Canada and the creation of a truly
national sentiment throughout the Do
minion. The movement is essentially
Canadian. We want to put the issue per-
fectly straight-the largest measure of
autonomy tor Canada compatible with
the maintenance of the British connec-
ton"
AS Canada now has complete autonomy
in its internal affairs. the nationalist de-
mand for more can mean only a demand
for autonomy in foreign affairs. And
this is what the Canadians of the ma
tionalist type really want-but why they
insist at the same time upon protesting
their loyalty to Britain is quite beyond
the American comprehension.
The nationalists, for instance, wish
Canada to have the power, in case Great
Britain goes
Would Examine Merits to war. to ex-
Of British Quarrels. its Of the war
and to participate in 1t or not, according
as it may be found just or unjust. That
particular sort of autonomy would, of
course. mean practical independence and
Canada would be no more closely bound
to Britain than is japan by the present
treaty of alliance.
1t all came out Of the naval question.
The conservatives wanted to give a
dreadnought battleship to England. The
liberals wanted a Canadian navy The
French element, particularly in Quebec,
didn't want to spend any money on any
navy Of any kind. And that was the real
genesis of the nationalist movement
Two years ago the British lion suddenly
was seized with a fit of fear which sent
shiver around the red belt of the globe.
The German menace suddenly developed
into the German war scare. The whelps of
the lion-Australia, New Zealand. South
Africa, Canada-hotly roared their deter
thin red line. and the alfred map. 1t
was magnificent display of patriotism.
Then it was suggested, ever so gently,
4 hat fhn