CENTENARY OF CARTIER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 138, 7 December 1912, Page 14

CENTENARY OF CARTIER

CANADA'S CONFEDERACY HIS LIFE WOlttf. Canada is preparing ' to celebrate the Centenary of George Etienne Cai'tier (born 6th September, 1814, died 20th May, 1673) , the apostle of Canadian consolidation. ' It has been written that "without Cartier, Confederation would hot have been possible, and, without Confederation, what Would Canada be today?" He early recognised that im» proved means of transportation was the quickest means, of populating and binding Canada, and his first and liis last speeches Were in favour of railways. His name is forever identified with the east-to-wesfc trunk railway system, transAtlahtic steamship lihks, the improvement and deepening of the St. Lawrence, the building of canals, the addition of the western provinces to the Confederation. 1 and the establishment of the Canadian military system. Born in Quebec province, of French* Canadian parents, he took some part in Papineau'a rebellion of 183?, and had for a time to leave the country. But he soon repented of this youthful aberration, and returned to Canada as a loyal and enthusiastic subject of the British Crown. "His attitude and sentiments in this , regard [writes The Times) are best expressed in a few words from a speech delivered in London in 1869 at a time when he was a member of the first Dominion Government. 'The Canadian people desire to remain faithful to the old monarchial flag of Great Britain, that flag which waves over all seas, that flag which tyranny has never been able to overcome, that flag which symbolises true liberty.' If that was the universal sentiment of the Canadian people in 1869, it was largely owing to Cartier's personal influence over Canadians of his own race that it had become so. "The Prince of Wales has been invited to visit Canada in the year of < the centenary and to preside at the dedication of the memorial, and, should His Royal Highness ,be able to accept the invitation, it will, We are sure, he felt that the occasion is eminently worthy of his presence and countenance. Invitations have also been sent to the Premiers of all the British colonies. Thus the whole British Empire will in Bpirit be gathered to do the honour , which is justly due to the memory of the man who, albeit not of British blood and race, was one of the first to comprehend the majesty and dignity of the Empire, and one of the foremost to pro« mote its unity." 1