FRENCH-CANADIANS AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 198, 10 May 1918, Page 5

FRENCH-CANADIANS AND THE WAR

KEY TO. THEIR INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE. Like the bulk of the southern I the I.''rench-Canudiaus have ostentatiousi h- displayed their indifference, and even hostility, to measures for the Drosecul.ion of the war whenever those measures entailed any personal sacrifice on their own part. The reasons for their disloyal attitude in the Empire's hour of trial are explained, by tho Rev. Harold Hamilton, D.D., in anurticle whiofr he contributes -to tho February "Nineteenth Century and Alter." In Quebeo, •'tho central home of their peculiar Nationalism, the Froncli-Canadians hare, lio tells ns, developed a type of their own. "Its chief ideal may be summed; up in the words 'nous mitres,' which: mean just what Sinn Fein means in, Ireland, and well express fll that they, stand for—'ourselves alone.'" Dr. Hamilton points out that tho British flag has relieved tho French-Canadians of all responsibility for themselves as a nation in the world of nations. Not baring had to fear dangers from without, they have not felt the need of combining with the English-speaking Canadians for mutual protection. On the contrary, their chief pro-occupation has been to defend the rights, or supposed' rights, of FrenohCanada against English-Canada. "The feelings which in othei' peoples are called patriotism or lovo of country are in the French-Canadians directed towards thtir church. . . Tho Roman Cnurch is. the ono organisation wiioh includes all French-Canadians, and, in Quebec, at least, very few others. It serves as a sort of framework, or, to vary tho metaphor, as a kind of cement to hold them all together." In tie province of Quebec, the church is praotically established—it has all the privileges of an established church, with none o£ the correeoonding responsibilities or limitations. It collects its tithes from the tho universities ire alike under ecclesiastical properly, both Roman and nonRoman, is exempt from municipal taxation, arid a vastly dis'proportionato amount of tho ecclesiastical property is Roman. Nor does the power of the church end there. "It ;s i.ot too nmolr to say," remarks Dr. Hamilton, "that tho hierarchy controls tho tntJre intellectual life of tho peoplo as completely as tho German Imperial Government controls tho thoughts cf tho Germans." The Press, the theatres, tho schools, and the universities are nliko under ecclesiastical domination. i('lf a French newspaper airs views of which the hierarchy disapproves, it is put under the ban, and it may; as well oeaso publication, for no ono will read or buy it. If a play is produced of which tho ecclesiastical authorities disapprove, it is similarly proscribed. Not long ago tho tlieatricnl lessees in Montreal asked tho Roman arohbishop to appoint a censor of plays, for it was better to snbmit to this control than occasionally to incur a heavy loss."

Tho State docs not directly concern itself with education, and as far as the Roman Catholics aTe concerned tho bishops, assisted by a fow priests and laymen, siorm the executive committee. The training of the teachers, tho clioica of text books, tho courses of instruction, the conduct of examinations, and tho arrangements for inspection from the elomentary cchool to tho ■" post-graduate classes in tho universities, aro entirely controlled by selected members of. the Roman hierarchy. Tho average FrenchCanadian boy outers this system in his oarly years, and ho breathes tho sanio atmosphere as long as his education lasts. .History, it may be montioned, is taught in tho schools, with a text book in whioh tho whole history of' Canada is written from a Frenchi-Canadian and Roman Catholic point of view. "Lea Anglais" aro tho bad people who do all tho dirty tricks, and generally act the villain towards tho good "Francais." That is why French-Canadians _ wero ready to belieTO all the wild stories of British treachory and cfuelty rife in Continental Europe during tho Boor War. Tho teaching of tho Roman Church in' Canada intensities tho differences which 6pring from raco and language, and tends to keep tho French-Canadians as a raco apart, even from tho Fronoh. of modern France. Its clergy liavo.creatcd a "national hot-house," in 'which, they have forced the growth of a special typo of "nationalist," in.whom tho old French chivalry which bade mon hazard their lives in dofonco of tho weak has been roplaced by a studious caro for "nous autros." This typo is unprogrcssivo and self-centred, but it is devoted to tho Church and docilo to tho last do-, R ree. "Tho Conscription Act, says Dr. Hamilton, "has touched tho French leaders on a sensitivo spot. It means that their hopo of dominating Canada is eon» for Rood, and oven their stronghold in Quebec is threatened. The French paris priests and the Nat onalies, realise h t thev aro at tho crisis cf their fate. Either they must rebel and make the r l,id for independence now, as somo of tho clerical papers have urged that they Bhoi M, or else if tho habitants' submit o conscription and go to fight in Franco beside tho English-Canadians, tho bothouso system is rumed, and it is not unlikely that popular feeling among tho French will become moro favourably disposed towards tho English, and that Canada in tho futuro wilt coino to occupy tho placo in their thoughts and affections which tho ecclesiastical authorities havo hitherto usurped."