THE LANGUAGE OF MONEY.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43092, 14 May 1907, Page 4

THE LANGUAGE OF MONEY.

iAxilcofidingi to an American saying, -“money, . taKks in all languages.” Sir WilMd Laurier has very neatly turned the fact to account in a somewhat difficult piece of diplomacy. One of the members in the Canadian Pai - Lament, who sits for the province of Quebec, or “Old French Ca-nadaa'” is M. Armtand'- Lavergne. He is _ a leader of French Canadians, and voices their demands. One of these has recently

been for a revival of the French language ap a State tongue. Ah Lavergne Wanted French and English “placed on an equality in all public matters, suichi as coinage and postal administration, French Canadians, while loyal to the British flag, being unalterably attached to their mot-her-tongtue.” Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in rejplying, was equal to the occasion. He quite agreed thait there were innumerable times and periods when it was most, proper to speak French in Canada. But to print French and English side by side on- every State document might be confusing and would

also smack of distrust- in; the popu!ar intelligence. Then- he made his point. He had; never known a French-Can-ar dian fail to understand the language of a hank-note printed in English. Also' Bank of En,aland notes had for hnndreds of years borne the motto “Dieu et Afon Droit,” and the- English had newer thought of changing it. If that did n-ot show an equnlitv in language, what did ? AT. Lavergne was silenced, if not- satisfied.