New-York tribune., 1917-07-24
The Truth About Quebec
Some Further Facts About the Opposition OF French Canaa'd"'
and Others to CONSUMPTION
Bu Arthur !. Laliberte


New York Tribune, tried TO clear the point
about the anti-conscriptionist feeiing' not
,nlv in the Province of Quebec, but also N
all other parts of Canada, endeavorins 10
show that, although it was true 10 an eA-
tan. that there was a violent reaction among
the French Canadians-a fact much 10 De de-
plored, as, according to my viewpoint lne
fru energies Of all the world should be con-
cartrated in an effort to fight and destroy
the Prussian menace-they, the French, were
not alone in baking at the new proposition
have shown, and it has not been contradicl-
cd that all of the English provinces were
then, and are still, kicking Justify, and as
nroof of what | advanced | was careful IN
choosing only excerpts from the Canadian
newspapers printed in English, reports from
the same newspapers of anti-conscriptionist
meetings, extracts from speeches OF Eng
lish Canadian public men, and, of more
weight than all the rest, part of an inter-
view given on May 80 in Ottawa by Lord
Shaughnessy, president Of the Canadian Pa
cfc Railway which follows, and which, be-
lieve, it is advisable to repeat herewith:
at has been suggested" said Lord Shaugh-
messy, Chat we have elective conscription,
but as that signifies compulsory military SER
vice, the Canadian Parliament faces the most
serious form of legislation which has ever
come forward. The suggestion Of compul-
sorry military service will seem odious for
great many in the different parts Of the
country, and legislation TO that effect will be
most unpopular and is likely TO cause most
heated public protestations, also agitation OF
the most serious character. Moreover, the
situation that may result will be deplorable,
as the splendid contribution of Canada to
Great Britain and her allies will be neutral
lied in most serious way should the enemy
be put in a position to say that our country
is house divided against ITSELF
Lord shaughnessy's Prediction Fulfilled
Events have since developed with light
ming rapidity, not only in Quebec, but all
over Canada, and have shown Lord Shaugh-
nessy's farsighted views and wisdom; they
have carried my point with vengeance. The
whole of Canada has risen as man against
the measure, and although the Tory news
papers from Toronto have not given up the
hope of yet passing the buck" to Quebec,
they are using "Prussisn" ways in order to
DO so, slander and lying being the favorites,
and may say that as far as the opinion OF
this country is concerned they have almost
succeeded.
The "inferor race as the Tory from On
tario 90 charitably calls the French Canadian
from Quebec is indeed jealous of its pre-
rocatives, which-to the eternal sorrow of
the English provinces-were granted to the
French, the fret corners in Canada, at the
Treaty of Paris in 1853, shortly after the
cesson. and not the conquest" as is gen.
orally stated, New France having been ceded
TO England by Louis XIV. 1t has always been
intensely loyal, and both in 1875 and in 1872
fought and saved Canada to England,
but owing to the unjust and unfair methods
of some Of the Ontarians it must be said
that whenever movement that has any po-
litical significance begins in Ontario the
French element cannot help Immediately
starting guessing as to where Quebec is COM
ing in for a knock, and they are not so
STUPID as their adversaries-I should say their
sworn enemes-woud like them to be, 1t is
short work for them to get down to the facts.
~
shown conclusively in the Canadian Paria
ment during the last ten days that, as AL of
Canada was threatening revolt if the bill
was passed and enforced, the Ontario "Prus-
sian" simply tried to hide his own sores by
resorting to the simple expedient of blaming
il on Quebec, and bowling to that effect with
out a let up, with the unfortunate result that
they have been almost successful in blasting
the reputation of Canada's oldest province
of New France. if one judges by the almost
unanimous falling in of the ordinarily eff
cient and fair-minded American newspapers,
magazines and reviews.
IL may be well to point right here to that
which presume is the reason of the blame
it on Quebec" policy in the columns of the
papeIs published in English on the North
American continent, and IL is that editors
and correspondents sent to Canada from here
naturally went direct to Ottawa, Toronto or
Montreal, where their informants, trusting
that they knew little or no French, seeing
their chance OF "strafng the habitant," as
in their ignorance they call the French Cana
dian, took advantage of the correspondents
not being able to hear the sound of "the
other bell" grasped the opportunity by its
coattails and went the limit.
The Ontario Superman
II has been pointed out that the French
Canadian was not only a Stacker, but even a
traitor, threatening armed revolt il the bill
was passed and enforced THE New York
Times" correspondent went so far as TO eX-
press the opinion Of some Ontario Boche who
said: I'VE will some day have to take up
arms and make war on Quebec in order to
teach them that Canada is an English speak
ing Protestant country; that we are not 70
lie led by that priest-ridden province. and
when our loyal troops from the west and the
western provinces their way GO Eu
rope we will allow them 10 stop over in Que
bee long enough to practise on the French
the same treatment that they will be called
to serve on the Germans"
Opinions Of that sort have been expressed
even in the Canadian Parliament Is it any
wonder if the French are somewhat restive :?
| ask for fair answer.