The mirror., 1916-10-26
Our Neighbor on the North
(Continued from first page)

! cheek. LaShlng his team he made the re-
naming fftv miles at breakneck speed.
So fast sped the dogs over the frozen snow,
with the ''Chinnock" in pursuit, that the
fore-runners of the sledge were on snow
while the hind-runners were on bare ground
Common consent acclaims this trapper's
sledge team champions of their class. 1t
would appear that the story-telIer is also a
champion in the story-teller's class.
The political situation in Canada is
peculiar. There aie but two parties-Con-
serva,ives and Liberals. The former are
now in power. This party represent the
ro-English element in Canada. The lead
ers of the Liberals party are of French ex-
traction. Canadians do not elect then
Governor-General nor their Senators
The former is appointed by the King OF
Great Britain. The senators are the choice
of the party in power and are elected for
life. Members of Parliament are elected
by ballot much as our Ccngressmen are
All honors of knighthood are granted BY
the King, on suggestion of the Governor
General and the leaders of the party in
power. Therefore, any individual politician
looking for honors from England must
serve her interests owing TO the lucky chanre
that finds Canada in control of the Con-
servative, or pro-English party during the
world war. The colony is doing far more
than would be done to assist Great b, itain
were the French party in power. Honors
have been showered on the Conservatives
who are using Canada manhood and 6nan-
cial resources to keep the mother country.
1t is by holding out these decorative bau-
bles that England is able to command the
hearty cooperation of those in control OF
the colonies.
A stri <ing evidence of the difference in
opinion that exiss between the British
the amount of support CAnada shall furnish
England in the pres sent war, is exempl,hed
ny a we'll known British Canadian writing
in a recent issue of the "Independent, an
american weekly publication. During thu
course of his article, which is emitted
"What Canada Has D,ne," the editor,
ian to respond to the call to arms, issued
ny England, writes: Il" Though with one third
the population OF all Canada, this French
Canadian province has given but hand
full of men to date-36 so out of total
Of 100000, of whom ten thousands came
from English-speaking residents of the
directions have b,en eq rally snail and dis
appointing. That Sir Wilfrid LaLrler (the
head of the French pary) has no. even been
able to do more with his own people has
been a sorry and grievous disappointment
The fact is, however, that he has not tried
| to do il.
The French Canadian has always re-
garded Canada and particularly Quebec, i"
the same spIi, as Americans regard thei'
Iand-as an independent country. The
French Canadian is frank to ad nit that h.,
has but little use for the EngIishman. And
his dislike is fully reciprocated by the latter
For this reason the bulk of British immi
grants give Quebec a wide berth ana 60
west.
The most influential newspaper, and the
one with largest circulation in The Domin
ion, is "La Press" of Montreal printed
in the Fench language. The racial and
religions difference of British Protestan,s
and French Catholics have been the cause
of many armsi clashes in Quebec and
eastern Ontario.
So called "progressive'' legislation find !,
a welcome only in the western parts OF
Canada-PIohih,ion and suffrage Iegisla
tive acts have been enacted in several western
provinces. Quebec refuses even to put the
issues to vote. The power of the French
province to swing political destinies was
fully demonstrated in referendum" taken
in Canada some years ago on the prohibl
tion issue. The country as a whole voted
''drv." In spite of this fact the bill was
vetoed by the government, probably at the
demand of Quebec Influences.
Broadly speaking, the entire western halt
of Canada is Protestant. The eastern part
is Roman Catholic. So great is the power
of the Roman church in Quebec and the
maritime provinces, that the cura,e OF the
parish is the local arbiter of all questions,
both religious and secular. The Roman
church maintains immense training schools,
monasteries and nunneries in Quebec. Some
of these institutions are located in the most
valuable sections of land. The buildings
cover acres and in the case of nunneries are
surrounded by high stone walls. 1t is
practically impossible to gain admittance
to these places except on business of the
church.
From a military standpoint, Canada is
helpless so far as protecting her borders is
concerned-even more so than is the Uni,ei