The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-28

PIE arc WatCn1ne with deep misR1v1ngS the
course Of events in the French speaking
portions OF the Dominion. The past
fortnight has seen the French language
agitation emerge from a provincial
problem into al issue of the gravest a
tional Significance. 1t has seen Sir Will
frid Laurier abandon the political rom
victions Of a lifetime to plead the cause
of the bilingualists. thereby splitting the
Liberal party into racial halves; the
union Of Liberals and N%ationalists IN
the province of Quebec to effect the de-
feat OF the Conservatives. who remained
loyal to the principle of provincial au-
tonomy in the matter OF language and
the practical cessation Of enlistment In
the Dominion forces among French Ca
nadians. During the past couple Of
months the trend OF events had boon
surely and steadily toward racial strife.
but the oininous developments of the last
few days have strikingly demonstrated
TO h country the p~erilousness of the
situation.
The provincial election in the province
OF Quebec this week Was fought almost
entirely on the question Of the rights
of the French language in Ontario and
Manitoba. The Conservatives. led by a
French Canadian, Philemon Cousineau,
courageously maintained that French
had no constitutional warrant outside
the province of Quebec that the logisla-
lures of the various provinces Were SUI
preme in matters of language and edu-
cation. The result was that they were
practically wiped out MS n political
party. carrying only seven out Of "A total
Of eighty-two constituencies. The Ma
tionalist followers OF Bourassa united
forces with the Liberals, the active sup
port OF the Roman Catholic hierarchy
was enlisted. and the province declared
almost solidly on the side of the French
In Ontario, who maintain that their
rights and liberties are being restricted.
The inevitable consequence has been
to fan the dying cmbers of French and
English racialism into a fierce fla me.
The English press in al outburst of re
sentiment at What is termed "Quebcc
dictation" serves notice to French
Canadians that Canada is a British
country and that the supremacy Of Eng
lish in the schools will be maintained. no
matter what the cost. Quebec is vigor-
ously assailed for its failure to provid.
recruits. French Canadians tainted will
d~isloyalty and cowardice.
French Threaten Revolt.
In return the French in Ontario con-
tinue 20 threaten n revolt against the
payment OF taxes unless and until they
are granted what they contend TO be
their language lights In the schools
mass meetings ~denouncing the Ontario
Government as "Prussian" are being
held. and from some extreme quarters
there are yelled hints at open rebellion
and bloodshed. In Quebec Cardinal
Begin. scores OF Bishops and thou
sands Of priests. journalists and politi-
clans are carrying on the agitation
against tho Ontario school laws the
Duke OF Connaught has been personally
appealed to municipalities are taxed &c
provide funds to carry on the movement
| and enlistment In the army is openly and
successfully opposed.
The effect on enlistment amons
French Canadians a been powerful
A few days before Parliament p%rorogued
| the Government brought down n return
containing the recruiting statistics OF III,
various provinces from the beginning OF
the war to April 10. II disclosed th'
disturbing fact hat out OF a total o
$4,000 men enlisted French Canada
with more h "a a quarter OF the entire
population Of the Dominion. had fur
nished less than $4,000 men. At tht
outbreak OF the wal a Goodly number
OF French Canadians found their way
to the recruiting stations. and 1t wa
estimated that something like $500 o.
them were with the first contingent &c
so overseas. But not long afterward IN.
school question III Ontario became acut"
Mr.. Bourassa, the Nationalist leader
came out openly against enlistment and
was strongly supported by certain sec
tons of the clergy, with tho result that
despite the pleadings OF Sir Wilfrid I.au.
rier and other leading men in the prov.
! ,ncc. recruiting steadily declined unit
II has almost reached h vanishing
point.
Tried 10 Conceal Detection.
At tho beginning. when il was first APP
parent that French Canadians were no,
rallying TO the colors In anything like
the proportion that the cit,zens of the
other provinces were. the Government
IN the interests Of national harmony
| made an effort TO conceal the true state
OF Affairs But Az time went on the
facts gradually came to light. II be-
came known that after nearly two years
! Of war the people Of French Canada
comprising over 1000. 900 of the coun
try's population. had only n battalion
the Twenty-second) actually on the
firing line. and not more than three bat
taiions overseas. This failure of the
French to recruit. despite appeals on be-
half Of old France. has naturally led &c
| bitter determinations and a widening OF
the gap which separates the two races
IN Canada. Above all II has made thu
settlement of the language question cx'
tremely difficult. The ultra-Protestan'
and Orange sentiment OF Ontario. backed
c%uriously enough by the Overwhelming
majority of Irish Catholics. demand tina
the Government of the province shall no
recede one step from the position ii ha'
taken. This position Is the enforcement
in the schools Of the province OF wha
8 known as Regulation II. This regu
lation requires English to be taught II
French or bilinGual schools from the be
Ginning of tho COURSE. and be Tho Ian