The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-11
FRENCH CANADIANS
CALLED SEDITIOUS
Outspoken Charge by Senator Pope
Causes Sensation in the Province
of Quebec,

MONTREAL, Dee. 1l.-Rufus Pope,
senator for Bedford, one of the most
influential Conservatives in the Do
minion, whose opinions command wide
respect, delivered a significant utter
ance here regarding the attitude taken
by the French Canadian people anl
press since the fight over CONSUMPTION
He made the following comments, which
have created profound sensation
throughout the province:
. for one am very sore when |
read in the city and rural press Of this
province articles of very seditious IA
ture, without line or word of protest
from the natural guides of French Ca
madam people. A paper printed be-
meath the windows of the bishop Of
| Chicoutimi talks of the near downfall
of this mighty empire and of such
| downfall as a matter of no more i'm
portance than the decapitation of a
constable by the Chicoutilni town eoun-
ell, and yet not protest IS heard froln
high quarters.
Here in this city sedition is taught
day after day and year after year. The
| piratical' acts of the British fleet are
referred to i'll the most unblushing
manner by men who have apparently
stolen away the influence which the
good archbishop Of Montreal used 10
so wisely exercise over his parish
priests, and still no protest is heard
from high places Clerical sheets cir
culating exclusively among the clergy
speak openly Of the Austrians. our
deadly enemies, delivering his Holiness
from his captivity, while another open-
" champions during these days of war
the breaking up of the confederation
) eve English king people have
been too busilv engaged III our daily
occupations to pay attention TO the
agitatOrs who have been for the last
twenty years sapping the very founda
tons of British institutions in thi.
country, the result being that we sud
!, denly awaken to the fact that IS pei
cent Of the rural press of this province
) is absolutely antiBritish in sentiment
/ and % per cent pro-German.
! Any man who will investigate tn,
, situation impartially will be told tha
: good percentage of the young peoplr
: of both sexes-I refer to French Ca
l nadians-will express their preference,
for German rather than British domi
r nation. What French blood can Their
= be in an audience that will laugh t
4 seorn such eloquent appeals as thos
: made by c. II. Capan last evening OF
! behalf Of bleeding France?
c We are called arrogant and hOstil
/. to the French Canadians, yet at ,hl
5 very moment so per cent OF their sicl
I are in Protestant beds, while thai
= own hospitals are kept open By Eng
/ i,..6 i. L
r whose views have been distorted by nj
leaders will shout, Down with tn
English! when Bourassa has the foo
but if he falls from a seaffold he vi
order his own removal TO the Genera
hospital.
: There was none OF this false IL.
tionalism in the makeup of the goo
old French Canadians Of Sir John :
G | Macdonald 5 time They had not The
u been poisoned by men of the BourasS
, and Lavcrgne stamp and were Nc
i given to understand by portion Of til
& lower clergy that they were being d,
/ prived of their rights and Liberties.
L want to utter one word Of warn
J. ing. We here in Quebec know and A,
2 preciatc the good qualities of OF
g neighhors and fellow-countrymen, bl
there Is larg" and growing populi
+ tlon Ill the West who do not know thi
lc and one day when these Westerners q
n eide to modify racial relations in IL
Dominion II will be very handy if II
1t Quebec English ncighbors are on the
- side. ] ask them, however, if they a
= acting just now in a manner that wi
h keep the English Of Quebec short Ii
n tanec away when troubles come. ="
tn