The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-14

OTTAWA. July 13.-While Canada is
battling for the empire abroad she Is
confronted with "A language war at nome
The constitutional rights of the F'rench
language outside the Province OF Quebec
"A question as old as the treaty OF
Paris. and the hugbear of Dominion
poltics--is once more "A burning PROB
lem The embers of Old racial antago-
nisms are fercely famed and frehSh
Canadian leaders. like Henri Boursssa'
openly declare that the pact OF con-
federation is endangered.
The immediate cause OF the threatened
disruption is the present legal status
of the French language In the bilinsuai
schools of the Province OF ontario. In
the total population Of Ontario. now
given as 2523,21i. there are 2O2.-f-
persons of French descent. or the oilo
schools in the province $50 prov!de m
struction in French. OF i5?,siS schooi
children 2s.OlJ use or learn french
Y The practice OF allowing the french
language to be taught In these SCHOOLS
dates back to 1880. but when Govern
meut investigation three years ago dis-
closed the fact that hundreds OF the
teachers were hopelessly inefficient and
that the English language was system
at,cally neglected in the interest or
French the Ontario authorities decided
TO restrict the use OF French in all
b.lingual schools.
The new laws We're met with storm
of resentment from French Canadians,
and AN agitation was begun which has
grown In intensity and now embraces
the whole OF French Canada and
threatens to resul, in the total suppress
sion of French in schools outside OF
Quebec.
\ majority of the bilingual school
boards openly defy the Government. In
spectors have been threatened with
violence on more than one occasion.
Collections of money to carry on "A fight
against the new regulations have been
taken all over Quebec, powerful pol.t-
clans and clerics in that province have
enlisted their influence on the side OF
their ontario Compatriots and the con-
troversy is famed by the extreme ut
terances OF demagogues on both sides.
In the past six months the question
has been discussed by the Quebec Lecis-
lature, the dominion Senate and many
leaders OF Canadian public opinion. A
policy of concilat!on is urged. but the
. Ontario Government stands firm in its
determination to keep Ontario an Eng
hsh province and give every child an
adequate English education" while the
: Canadian oar1S IaClare bnf
! ,a,h',a no, ~ ..e,,,,I rirbts for ,ba
I,a,,,n ,,,a,o,., ,,III irdure ,be,, "a
'i,snn,,,r"a ,Seir ,gi,at,on
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,ha, ,hai, nronn,and, A, mas,
,,'aa,,,c h.ld I'm It,awa r.cartIv nro,
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ara ,rasar, Nr oy.ryre decinraf
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,,,il Le .r,,shad'
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