FRENCH-CANADIAN SENTIMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13719, 28 April 1910, Page 6

FRENCH-CANADIAN SENTIMENT.

Tho incorporation of the French-Cana-dian community in the Canadian nation, and the loyalty of the "habitant" to tho Crown and the Empire, are constantly cited as remarkable proofs of the Briton's genius for Empire-building. This is quite justifiable, but there is a tendency in some quarters to overlook the extraordinary tenacity with which the French-Canadian clings to his language, customs, and habits of thought. Probably every British schoolboy receives a mild shock of surprise on learning that French is the common language of daily life of a large portion of the Canadian people. It is not everybody, however, who fully realises the differences that 'divide tho "habitant" sharply from the British-Canadian. The French-Canadians are _ood citizens of Canada, and perfectly content to remain under the British flag, but they remain a semi-foreign community. They have preserved their old French customs with astonishing, fidelity. The mass of them do not read English newspapers, and there are districts in Quebec where English is neither spoken nor understood. Their news and their political guidance are obtained from French newspapers and French politicians. There is an old st-.T of a "habitant" enquiring, when Queen Victoria died,who "got her job.". It was explained to him that her son, King Edward, succeeded to the throne. "By gar," said the simple man, "ho must have had " great pull with Laurier." Seventy years ago Lord-Durham drew attention to the evils of this difference of tongue, and as recently as last year the Toronto correspondent of "The Times" re- : perted that the determination of the Church and. the -Provincial Legislature to maintain French as the language of the people was as firjn as ever. Under the circumstances ono cannot expect tho French-Canadian to be an enthusiastic Imperialist. He is (passively rather than actively loyal. The mass cf the community were opposed to the j sending/of troops to South Africa, and j they view with suspicion and dislike ; proposals to co-operate ,in Imperial dei fence; "The wind of Imperialism id •" blowing, in 'our country," said >?La Patrie,*" last year; it the time of the excitement caused by the naval debates. "It is a veritable tempest—a tornado "similar to that which provoked the "South African Wa-r. Then we were " asked for soldiers; 7 how war vessels 4 ' are wanted." "La Pr esse," which has the largest circulation in Canada, could see no peril in Germany's pre--jjaratiops, sad. attributed talk" of Canadian co-operation with England to jingoism. " Why should Canada arm to "destroy this Colossus with the feet of clayP"—an estimate of Germany as wide of the mark as anything could be. It is suggested, and it is not unlikely, that Sir Wilfrid Laurier framed his proposals .for a Canadian navy with one eye on French-Canadian sentiment. The Conservatives oppose his policy, holding that Canada should instead strengthen the British Navy. It is significant that three or four Conservatives from Quebec have dissociated themselves from this policy, which is obnoxious to most French-Canadians. Now comes news of a i proposal—the outcope, no doubt, of the division on defence questions—to form a French-Canadian party in the ! Dominion House of Commons, on the ; lines of the. Nationalists at Westminster. This would mean a party independent of the other parties, prepared to vote for whichever side placed the higher value on its support. From both the national and the Imperial points of view, it may be hoped that the move will not succeed. It would solidify and isolate still further the French-Canadian community, which is already too much out of touch with the rest of the nation. In solving tbe problems of constructive Imperialism,.something more is needed than the passivity of tho "habitant."