The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-12-21
WHAT AND WHY ACROSS -. 80.
THE LINE IN CANADA

What is the population of Canada?
Roughly it is given as a scant
s ,OOO, 900; the population in 1911 was
Z 7,2O6,64
How many are there of the French
Canadians?
More than 100000, mostly in Que
bee province.
How many Austrians and Germans?
About 100000.
What is the stronghold of Union
ism and pro-war sentiment?
Western Canada.
Who is the leader of the Unionists?
Sir Robert Borden, Canadian pre-
mier.
Who is the leader of the French
Canadians?
Sir Wilfred Laurier, known as the
greatest orator and shrewdest polite
ian in the Dominion.
What is the French Canadian atti-
tude toward the war?
They have little interest in it, re-
fuse generally to participate, and are
bitterly opposed to conscription, even
to the extent of openly threatening
civil war and secession.
What is Laurier's position on the
war and conscription?
Laurier has supported the war, to
an extent. He is opposed to con-
scription at least without referen-
dunn. But he has been most critical
of the Borden governments conduct
of the war For instance, while ac-
knowledging that the French-Cana-
dians have not responded to the call
,, to arms, he blames to a large degree
the selection of recruiting speakers
who did not understand his people.
Is the Liberal party a unit with
Laurier?
Far from it. All party lines were
E, largely swept away with the con
scription fight. Laurier resigned his
, leadership of the old Liberal party
and many, in fact most, of the other
Liberal leaders have gone over tc
the government in support of ths
war.
Who are the French Canadians?
The French Canadians were the
original settlers of Canada. Their
speak French almost exclusively
and the language question IL
the schools of Quebec has been thu
cause of much trouble to the govern
ment. Both French and English ar,
taught in Quebec, and there is al
way trouble over one or the othel
being sighted.
What are the figures on French
Canadian enlistments in this war
Canada has raised more than 400,
600 fighting men, Of which thu
French Canadians, with fourth o
the total Canadian population, have
furnished only about 10000. OF tn,
first 100000 fighting Canadians il
France only 1000 were French Can
adams.
Why are the French Canadians op
posed to participation in this war
There are many reasons. TIL,
French Canadians is simple. peace
loving and religious person WHIT
takes little interest in the outsid,
world. He is not pro-German. If hi
has any sympathies in the war the!
are pro-ally. Neither is he pro- Brit
ish. And he Us even less pro
French. He regards France as al
atheistic country, which is being
punished for it's SINS while HI
speaks French, he has been in Amer
lea for more than two centuries-ant
there has been practically no immi
grafton from France for 200 years
He is much less pro-Canadian thai
ro-Quebec. Nothing outside mat
ters until it affects Quebec, he
church or her language and then
right away the French Canadian /
out for fight. He is not a coward
far from that. But he reads n
White Books nor Blue Papers an
can see little connection between tn
war over there and the liberty of tn
French-Canadian at home. II Hi
ldenburg were battering at the gate