The sun., 1919-09-07
CANADA TO OBSERVE
CARTIER CENTENARY
Celebration, Originally In
tended for 1914, Postponed
by the War.
TO UNvEIL MONUMENT
Many Notables Will Pay Trib-
butte to Memory of Nations
Great Statesmen.
specioI DespotcA 70 rHr suN.

MONTREAL. Sept. 6.-The centenary of
George Etiehne Cartier is being cele-
brated this year. although Cartier was
born in 1914. The anniversary fell in
the midst of war and was postponed.
Invitations have been issued to many
celebrities, including the President of
the United States, and they are being
ling the monument. which has been
erected to his honor and which will be
unveiled In this city some time in Sep
TENDER.
Cartier shares with wllfrid Laurier
the distinction Of having led his COM
patriots during an important crisis of
history. Cartier during the foundation
laying of the Canadian State when the
decisions meant much to French Cana
dams
When Cartier was a young man tie
country was torn by an agitation for
political reform that would bring the
Government under control OF the elected
representatives of the people. The Gov
ernor and his executive, appointed by
himself, were inclined to treat the Cana
dams with slight regard and did not
transact the affairs Of State in a man.
Act of 1774 had expressed the gen
erous principles Of British rule.
As one stated It: what we. cling
to most closely Is our religion and the
laws regulating our property and our
personal freedom. The Quebec Act OF
1774 secured US all that"
It did not provide for representative
government. The French under the old
regime were not schooled to want that
,,xN tKnh
concerned about 1T. But with the COM
ing of the many loyalists into Canada
from the American colonies, and other
immigrants from the British Isles, most
of whom settled in Upper Canada and
In Acadia, there grew up the demand
for institutions of self-government such
as they had been used to- and the French
caught the fever and Joined in the de-
mand.
Had Part in Rebellion.
The exclusiveness and rapacity of the
family compact in Upper Canada, and
the autocratic and irresponsible rule In
Lower Canada eliminated in the open re-
bellion of 1887, in which young Cartier
had a part
Lord Durham, the Governor, was I'M
willing to mete out severe penalty to
the rebels, who were soon rounded up,
and he was recalled to London. But
he was later sent back on a tour of in
curry to report on the situation. Through
his wisdom and sagacity the, Act OF
Union OF 1S41 was passed. by which the
provinces of upper and lower Canada
were united under one legislative assem-
bly,. meeting alternately in Toronto and
Quebec. An equal number OF members
was given to the provinces and no pro-
vision mado for any redistribution OF
seats.
But the main point in the new act
was that the Governor was to accept
the advice of his Ministers under what
I, is known as the system OF Responsible
government. That was very good IN
theory, but Lafontaine and Baldwin had
to fight for the prize and give the rep
resentative of the crown TO appreciate
that there was to be no intrigue That
was not fully understood until after
confederation in 1857.
Cartier was no idle spectator of these
movements. He kept close to his com
patriots and strove to conserve their
rights and make sure of the future. a
biographer, Decelles, has said: From
the day he entered the Cabinet to the
| day of his death Carriers career was a
useful and fruitful one for his country.
| His activity spread itself over every
part of national life. imparting to each
new blood and strength. The field or
his labor might be divided into two
parts one being his native province and
the other Canada at large. Public edu-
cation, the seigniorial tenure. the judi
ciary and the codifcation of the
| laws of lower Canada were among the
subjects which occupied his attention in
Quebec.
Overcame Obstacles.
| ut cannot be claimed that he alone
settled the land tenure of the country.
1t had been before Parliament and the
country for years. But the question OF
acquired rights, the rival claims of seig-
nors and their censitaires raised noun
tain of obstacles which no one dared
touch until Cartier and his friends re-
solved to grapple with the huge bulk"
According to Lord Metcalfe 'the union
| OF the Canadas was effected without the
consent of Lower Canada, and with the
hesitating but purchased consent OF
| Upper Canada"
With the possible exception of Up
| per Canada the confederation OF all the
| provinces was brought about In the same
manner. For years Cartier and the
French Canadians had worked in po-
litical affiliation with the Conservatives
| OF Upper Canada, whereby the majority
of the British voters were ruled by the
minority, and the French Canadians. BY
1860 the population Of Upper Canada
| had grown to be half a million in excess
| of Lower Canada, which gave power TO
the arguments OF George Brown for rep