THE ORDEAL OF CANADA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 8 October 1917, Page 6

THE ORDEAL OF CANADA

POLITICAL STRIFE BORN OF CONSCRIPTION

RELUCTANT QUEBEC

Ever since Sir Robert Borden gave notice of conscription there has been serious political confusion in Canada (writes the Toronto correspondent of the London "Times"). In Quebec there was iiniuediafe and angry protest against the proposal. Doubtless, feeling in the French province was stimulated by the. failure of Sir Wilfrid Laurier to indicate' whether or not he would support compulsion. Ever since the war be<;an the Liberal Leader has declared that we must not go beyond the voluntary system. There was not much hope that he would change his view under any pressure of conditions or circumstances,. He is peculiarly loyal to his compatriots, and ho knew that lie could not bend Quebec to conscription. As to the position of Quebec there has been much loose thinking- and talking. Over and over again we are told by those who knew little. or nothing of French-Canadians that they could not bo made to understand the voluntary system, but that they would submit readily to compulsion. It was said that they had not been educated to understand the significance of the war to Canada. It was declared that the French Roman Catholic Bishops at the proper season would bring their people to the colours. Tlio truth is that the ''curvs" have been solidly against recruiting in ?the French parishes, and they haye not been seriously disciplined by their eccfesiastical superiors. Mr. Bourassa, Mr. Lavergne, and other leaders of the National faction have been noisy and influential. For generations French-Cana-dians have been warned against "the vortex of European militarism," and to resist expenditure for defence. It "has been the habit of Canadian politicians since the union of Upper and Lower Canada to appeal without much regard to consequences to the racial and religious prejudices of Quebec. AVo may not forget that Quebec is as French as it was a hundred years ago, and more Frcnch than it was. fifty yeans ago. In any contest between Quebec and the English provinces, Quebec has generally prevailed. The French ' element unites to secure its political objects; the Eng-lish-speaking elements divide between the twS political parties. Naturally we think of the South -when it, began to lose its ascendancy at Washington. The Canadian West, generally out of sympathy with Quebec, steadily increases its authority at Oltawa, and the French province' looks to the futuvo witli concern Many of its political and religions leaders are unwilling to have their neonlo slaughtered on European battlefields. They do not carc how many English people enlist for oversea service. But if they are again t, the war their hostility is rather passive than active. They profess readiness to defend Canada Against actual invasion, but they admit no military obligation to France or Great Britain.

Racial Division. It was a common belief when the war began that tho partnership of 'Franco and Britain in tlie great struggle for free institutions would obliterate the suspicions and enmities of generations and bring French and English in Canada together in a happy union ..of sympathy and interest. In Quebec they have flown tho Tricolour more freely than the Union Jack, and there has been much vocal devotion to old Franco. It is distressing, therefore, to find that the war has 'not brought Quebec into' co-operation with the English provinces. Indeed, the breach botween French and English has widened. We seem to be at the threshold of a quarrel which may try confederation to its foundations. .Uo-day no one pretends that Quebec will acccpt conscription. Not oven Sir Wilfrid lanrior could reconcile tho French Provinco to the proposal. Is it possible to coerce over 2 000,000 people? No Canadian political leader ever had greater authority in Quebec than Sir John Macdpnald, and vet over the execution of Kiel m 188j many of the most influential Conservatives in tho province deaerted his standard ' Riel was a small issue compared with conscription for War in k™oPe. A criticism of Sir Robert Bo deni is that ho should have consulted Sir Wilfrid Laurier before he suggested conscription. But the Prime Minister deliberately chose not to do so. He.acted as he did out of consideration for tho Liberal Leader. He knew the feeling of Quebec and thought it best to take the responsibility on his own shonldere. He came home from England convinced that compulsion must be attempted and that all party considerations must be ignored in the composition of the ?Hnces C wd C XTthe 0n nationnl position would be weakened if conscription wwe, announced after its' definite rejection by th» Liberal leader. . ~ But, whether wisely or unwisely, the Prime Minister noted on his own resDonsibilitv, and fully explained Ins rea.L,'fi,|. c'noli action in his negotiations with Sir Wilfrid. He took the Liberal leader fullv into bis confidence He. explained the in sia and in France as revealed in the con fer'ences in London in winch he P" 1 " 1 "! 1 " pated and he emphasised the absolute necessity for reinforcements for the Canadinn divisions nt the ami tor En-pater PxorHons nud sacrifices by Canada. He urged the or?nnifiatioTi of a Coalition Government, witb eqinl rtpresentntin" of the two narties but with conscription the central feature of the programme. • There was nq hnesling or bargaining, by the Prime Minister. He vns as reiulv to rec"ive as to offer suxsrestions. He assured the Liberal ler.de' that lie was not srreatly concerned M'out the' baln'ic" of parties, that his nominees for the Cabinet would be accepted wlth-_ out ouestion, and that there would be no conflict ov»r the nev«onnel of the Rov»rnment. or the distribution of nortfolios. Between the leaders there seems to have been no "round of difference excent ov°i" eonscripHon. and even as to this Sir TloVrt Borden was w>Hin<r to_ have the eonntrv pronounce judgment in n een-ej-al election before .actuel steps to enforce compulsion were taken.

Government Proposals Rejected. For a Few days the Prime Minister was hopeful that Sir Wilfrid Laurier would agree, but it is doubtful whether his confidence ever rested upon any solid foundation. There is no doubt that 'ho was profoundly disturbed and aistressed by the ultimate rejection of Ilia, proposals. Ho realises that with Sir Wilfrid Laurier opposing conscription the situation in Quebec will be :romensely a"gravated and feeling between Lng-lish-speaking' and French Canadians neatly embittered. He is seeking to induce Liberal members of Parliament favourable to conscription to enter tho Government, in spite ot Sir Wilfrid Limner's rejection of coalition, and is us ready to go outside Parliament in order to secure effective and adequate representation of the Liberal Vutty in the Cabinet. Liberal members ot tho House, however, are reluctant to take office in consequence of Sir willrid Laurier's action. They fear the accusation of party treason, of office seeking, of desertion of comrades, of recreancy to a leader under whom the Liberal Party has had its chief triumphs since I Confederation. The excuses may not seem to be edequoM or very roW, but Sir. Wilfrid Laurier exercises such authority over his associates, he commands such personal affection, that there is an element of tragedy for Liberals in the situation that has developed. No doubt a great bodv of English-speaking Liberals, particularly in Ontario and the Western Provinces, would like to have Sir Wilfrid Laurier resign the leadership ot tlio parly. They demand conscription, and tlioy will not follow the leader in the

course lie has taken. Whether or not he resigns, he wilt hardly regain the confidence of English-speaking Liberals. -We are at the end. of an ora in Canada. Foi 30 years Sir Wilfrid Laurier has fashioned the Liberal Party in his own image. With his disappearance or loss of control the party will be radically reconstructed, even if a now party is not created by coalition with Conservatives. In 70 years only one new party has attained to manhood in North America. There are resemblances between the conditions which produced the Republican Party of the United States and those which now prevail in Canada. If Liberals will not co-operate with Sir Robert Borden he will reorganise the Cabinet and appeal to the country. It is certain that a formidable wing of the Liberal Party will not agree to extend the life of Parliament. The Prime Minister will not consider extension by vote of a party majority. Parliament has become stalo and ineffective. There are 20 vacant seats in the Commons and 13 in the Senate., In Parliament there are bad temper and trivial and interminable debate over petty' questions. There are conflicting currents of opinion in the constituencies. Labour, where the Socialist element dominates," opposes conscription. The railway problem demands strong handling. Various other questions require firmer treatment than can be had from a moribund Parliament. It is the judgment of Sir Robert Borden that under these conditions effective conduct of the war or any satisfactory administration of affairs is impossible. With or without coalition, therefore, ho will insist upon a general election as soon as a new franchise law can be enacted. It is doubtful whether any attempt will bo made" to poll the votes of soldiers at the front, but probably the franchise will be extended to all women who have husbands, sous, or brothers on active service. The ominous fact in the situation is that the contest must deepen and accentuate feoling between Quebec and the other provinces.