New-York tribune., 1917-07-18
OuebecS 5 Part in the War
an Answer TO Arthur Lqbertcs Defence of the Apparent
Apathy of the H0baans

,cribed. He cannot grasp the tremehoou'
fact that in the event OF VICTORIOUS
many we should all be swallowed up III 'ne
deluge. And so, not knowing not u"ue
standing. he goes on his simple way unmoved
avn we'll aware that many other explana-
,ions are put forward to account for TINS IN
diference-many arguments prompted py
alice aforethought." 1t is said tnat 'ne
bab;tsnt's Church is holding him back l
cannot honestly say that | know what MS
church is counselling in regard TO the war
This is a thing most difficult, II not imPossi-
bio IN ascertain But that the Church is
advocating policy of aloofness in so vital
matter (even though it be temporal one
NAV be reckoned as doubtful. There may pe
isolated cases of this kind; but there Is ii''ie
- induce the belief that it is at all general
The Language Problem
fha language question is undoubtedly
sore point. For the beneft of the American
public let me explain shortly what the IAN
guage question is. In the Province OF Que-
bee. with French majority, you may con-
duct school in which nothing but English
is spoken but in the Province OF ONTARIO
with an English majority, you may not con-
duct school in which French is the language
of instruction. You may teach the frehch
language in an Ontario school land it Is
taught in most of them), but you may not
usa French as the language of instruction.
So that on the face of it the English minor
itv in Quebec enjoy a privilege which Is
denied 70 the French minority in Ontario.
Space will not permit my discussing the
merits Of this question at this time. 1t is an
alleged grievance that is made much of by
aoitators and those who would stir IN trouble
bet,yeen the races It has possibly kept some
French Canadians from enlisting, although
how many it would be difficult to estimate
should not think very great number, how
ever.
But now that we are TO have compulsory
service I venture to predict that the French
Canadian-habitant or city dweller-will do
his duty Just as cheerfully as anybody else.
From NV own observations incomplete as
thew doubtless are) | feel confident he VIII
not resist the law of the land as expressed
by the conscription bill. To talk of him as
either a coward or Stacker is merely to pro-
claim lack of knowledge.
"Ontario Prussians"
In conclusion, word about "Ontario Prus-
slams" This is a harsh term TO apply, yet
there is little doubt that in many respects
ness | fear the attitude of a number OF
Ontario people toward their French Canadian
brethren is frequently overbearing and in
tolerant. There is a tendency in some quar-
ters to look down on the French Canadian
to push him into the background-to discrim-
mate against him. | speak advisedly, for
have seen these things done. Yet | would
like to assure Mr.. Laiberte that this state or
mind Zone might say this ignorance) is not
common TO the majority of Ontario people,
but is confined to a somewhat noisy minority.
think am safe in saying that the great
bulk of Ontario people particularly agrlcult-
ural Ontario-are sympathetic toward the
habitant and seek to understand him. In this
may be mistaken; I give my opinion for
what it is worth.
The differences between the two races are
considerable, but they are not insurmounta-
BILE. II should be the never-ceasing effort of
all right thinking men to bridge the chasr
and not TO widen il. And if | may with all
Difference suggest to Mr.. Laliberte that he
turn his undoubted talent to this end he
might help materially in the achievement of
that unity of che peoples of Canada which
may be said to be at once the ideal and the
aim of every lover of this bright child among
the nations of the earth.
G.. W. f. DANIELS.
Ottawa, Canada, July II, 1917.