The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-02
ACADIA

Christian Science Monitor; Many peo.
pie who know nothing about the poll
tics Of the question win see a peculiar
fitness in the union, which has recent
ly been something more than mooted,
between the three maritime Canadian
provinces of Nova Scotia, New Bruins.
wick, and Prince Edward Island. Be
fore the Treaty of Utrecht in 17lS,
which ceded them to England the three
provinces formed the French Province
of Acadia rendered famous by Long.
fellow in his story of "Evangeline." Sub
sequent research, largely the result Of
Longfelow's poem, has shown that not
a little of the narrative would need re-
vision to bring it strictly into accord
with fact, but, in the main, the story
of Acadia is as Longfelow told II. Haw-
thorne briefly outlines it in his Amer
lean Note Book" He tells how friend
of his heard from a French.Canadian
story Of a young couple of Acadia. On
their marriage day, all the men of the
provence were summoned to assemble in
the church to hear proclamation. When
doNAlilHlNAf All'N NfiN hll otlAth anu
shipped off to be distributed through
New England--among them the new
bridegroom. His bride set off in search
of him, wandered about New England
all her days, and, at last found him
in the tragic circumstances which form
the closing scenes OF Longfellow's story.
The bridegroom was only one. of course
among some six thousand, and the de-
portation was the elimination of a vi
gorous anti.French policy, which. in
those days, was the basis of all British
politics
The country itself had probably been
discovered in 1897, by the famous John
Cabot, sailing under the English flag,
| but the first settlers We're French, who
took possession in virtue Of the explo.
rations OF Verrazano, Cartier, the Mar.
quis de la Roche, and Champlain. In the
year 1904 the first settlements were
made by the Sieur de Monts, Samuel
de Champlain and the Baron de Pou
| trincourt, but quarrels broke out with
/ the Jesuits and, in 1913, the English
colonists OF Virginia made a descent up
on the settlers, claimed the whole coun
try in right Of Cabot's discovery, and ex
PEELED the greater part of the inhabi
tants The treaty of st. Germain-en
I.aye, in 1882, however, confirmed
France in possession of Acadia, Cape
Breton, and New France. and the
French colonization OF the district went
on.
They did not agree well together
these colonists. Feuds were constantly
breaking out I'm their midst, and so no
torious did their disagreements be
come that, in 1854. Oliver Cromwell
sent out force which took possession
OF the country But again. under IN,
Treaty Of Breda. in 1867. it was restored
10 France by Charles IL. There was
however, no chance Of agreement in thi.
part OF the world in those days, for
when the French colonists were no
fighting amongst themselves, they were
fighting with the English colonists o.
New England. and in this latter strug
gle the Indians constantly took part
mostly on the side of the French.
| In 1910, the Province was finally cap
tured by Great Britain. and, as hai
been said was formally ceded to he
by the Treaty Of Utrecht, in 1913, IN,
French remaining in possession of Cap
Breton. The two nations. however
could not agree as 10 the rectification
OF boundary. The English Gained tina
the French Province included what d
now Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Is
land. most OF New Brunswick. and tn
Gaspe Peninsula: whilst the French re
stricted IL 20 the southern half Of Now
Scotia. Perpetual quarrels were tn
order Of the day and every day. and
at last. In 1855. Charles Laurence, tn
governor. determined 20 make a cleai
sweep of disaffection. Six thousan,
French were suddenly seized, hurried
into exile and scattered in many direc
tions. Some eventually found their wa.
back again. but large numbers settle,
In Cape Breton. and others In distan