Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-18

u training school to turn children into
Yankees who can be used by the rich
men" shouted Blais.
That man lies," stated Father Le
clair. He turned to his people. BE.
ware-beware--this is a time when
a mistake that may ruin all OF us
can so easily be made. There Is n
dangerous man up in that window. lie
is shouting the word Yankee at you
to make trouble so that he may profit
by the trouble. He wants you to be.
lieve that all Yankees are in league
with those men who have bought the
timber lands, so that this present
trouble and new anger OF yours may
make you rebels TO the laws of the
country in which you live. Listen to
me, my people. Rebels must suffer
in the end. That man wants you 10
be angry--to bluster-to fight. have
been watching him since he has come
to our parish. This is not the time for
hot young blood--for rash counsels.
1t is a time for care and patient
thought, so that the great men may
understand aud pity us. We do not
want them to fear and hate u.s."
His tones shook with the fervor Of
his appeal. He who had been so close
to them all the years understood the
present peril in all its possibilities.
( "All you have heard year after year
is Peace. peace and Turn the other
cheek clustered the opportunist in
the upper window. "It is time to
stand together, my countrymen. Let's
be Frenchmen together. I will speak
straight out. Send me to your as
sembly instead of the Yankee who is
trading away your rights. will go
down there to the capitol halls and
put my fists under their noses and
make them give you your rights
The men cheered him. IN tnem
despair and new misery this arro-
gance, this bombastic assumption of
power, caught their Gallo fancy,
spurred their hopes.
You silly boy, you are only pro.
voking good men to hurt their best
interest" stormed the priest. Stand
ing there among them in the highway,
in his worn, dusty cassock. he did not
seem the leader their fancy demanded.
That flushed, staggering youth in the
window, promising might to cope with
might filed their eyes. In moments
OF stress of emotion the demagogue
succeeds best with his arrant bun
combe The men i'm the road were
ready TO grasp at straws. They did
not trouble TO wonder how this young
man proposed to conquer when he
went singlehanded into the halls Of
law to force privileges for his section.
They looked up at him hopefully and
cheered again, drowning the good
fathers appeals TO their reason.
"The wolves think they have got
US on the rum" beloved Blais. ITS
their game to divide us and eat us
piecemeal. That big school, weaving
our children from Acadian language
and customs, is one scheme of theirs
to divide us.
"A Yankee as our representative is
another plan. But We will let them
know that we are awake at last. Aca-
dams, stand with me and stand to-
getfer."
He reached to one side and dra-
matically produced a flag wrapped
about a short staff. He shook out the
| flag. 1t was a French tricolor.
1--WE shall rally under this, my
selves--for ourselves, at last"
The men in the road leaped and
screamed. Their mercurial natures
were stirred TO the depths. Here at
last was the true expression, in the
words and act of Blais, of their re-
sentment--their bitter, sullen rage,
1 their hatred toward those whom they
now considered their oppressors.
The young lawyer was mailing the
short staff to the still of his window.
This flag shall stay here, MY
people, as our rallying banner It
shall remind you that am working
for your interests. Remember me
when it comes time to cast your
votes"
Notary Pierre fingered his thin nose
and squinted up at the flag.
That may be bad in the eyes OF
the law. A French flag over the door
of a postoffice Of the United States.
think It will make trouble" he sug-
gested to the priest.