APPRÉCIATIONS DES JOURNAUX §§!

LA FÊTE NATIONALE A QUÉBEC " l'Étendard "

Montréal, 26 juin 1889.

" Disons-le de suite, notre fête nationale a été célébrée cette année, à Québec, avec un succès qui n'a jamais été surpassé, ni peut être même égalé.

Québec est bien la ville canadienne française qui se prête le mieux à ces manifestations patriotiques. Berceau de notre race, elle a su conserver, à travers les âges, tout en se prêtant aux nécessités du progrès, le caractère que lui ont donné nos ancêtres.

Elle fait un peu l'effet, à côté de ces villes modernes sans souvenirs, presque sans passé, qui couvrent le continent américain, d'un antique bijoux, relique vénérable conservée et ornée par la main d'un joaillier du dix-neuvième siècle.

L'on pourrait dire d'elle, parodiant un proverbe populaire, que chacune de ses pierres parle.

Et à leur langage quel Canadien-français ne sent ses yeux so mouiller et son cœur, fortement ému, battre avec plus de fierté et de confiance ?

Noblesse oblige ; la bonnr vieille cité de Champlain, pas plus que le reste, ne l'avait oublié. Elle s'est surpassée.

4i2 FÊTE NATIONALE DES CANADIENS-FRANÇAIS

La partie la plus importante de cette belle fête, à laquelle elle nous a conviés, a été sans contredit la bénédiction de la croix et du monument Cartier-Brébeuf.

Associés dans un même triomphe, le hardi découvreur qui voulait donner à l'Eglise et à la France un nouveau royaume, et les glorieux martyrs qui les premiers arrosèrent de leur sang notre sol fécond, nous enseignent la source de tout vrai patriotisme ; l'amour de la religion.

C'est par de tels exemples qu'il convient d'instruire notre peuple et l'idée qui a inspiré au Cercle Catholique de Québec d'ériger un monument sur ce petit coin de terre où Cartier planta la première croix et où, pour la première fois, fut célébré l'auguste sacrifice de la messe, en est une vraiment grande et noble.

Qu'on apprenne ainsi à nos compatriotes à connaître les A'éritables héros qui ont fondé et affermi notre nation. Ce spectacle est salutaire et il sera fertile en heureux résultats.

Le programme proparé par la Société Saint-Jeau-Baptiste de Québec était varié et plein d'attraits. Il a été exécuté avec un rare bonheur.

Les feux de la Saint-Jean, une vieille coutume que nos pères avaient apportée de France où elle se pratique encore, ont été tirés de l'oubli où ils menaçaient de sombrer. Ci^s feux de joie n'ont pas l'éclat de nos pièces pyrotechniques modernes ; mais que de souvenirs ils rappellent, combien ils sont moins coûteux et quelle franche gaîté les pétillements du bois sec n'éveillent-ils pas tout à la ronde ?

ConserA'ons nos traditions, même les moins essentielles, si nous voulons conserver à notre peuple son caractère spécial.

En résumé, notre fête nationale a été daus toute la force du terme une belle fête ; plusieurs même disent la plus belle que nous ayons encore eue.

Dans tous les cas, elle a atteint son but : montrer aux nôtres les chemins parcourus et leur rappeler la voie à suivre.

Le Cercle Catholique et la Société Saint- Jean-Baptiste de Québec ont droit à toutes nos félicitations."

Jean d'Arc.

THE GHKAT CELEKKATIOX

" QlEltEC MDUNIXO Cil IJdXICI.e "

Québec, Tuesday, June 25, 1889.

'' In 1880, wheii our Freiich-Canadia]i frionds celobrated iu an especially noteworthy manner, the natal day of their patron saint, an immense number of people visited the city to witness the display. But gieat as was the nnmber of visitors on that occasion, it in nowise compares in point of strength with the number of people which the célébration has drawn this year, from ail parts of the continent. And a more orderly and well-behaved concourse, it would be difficult to fiud anywhere. On Sunday uight there must hâve been at least ten thousandpersons ou Dufferin terrace, while on the upper platform, and on the glacis, there could not hâve been less thau ten thousaud more. And yet that enormous well-dressed Company, drawn from the city, the suburbs, the adjacent towns and villages, and elsewhere, did not contain a single unruly or boisterous member. A handful of policemen were on ha^id to préserve order, but tbeir services were not required. This speaks volumes for the character and good breeding of our French-Canadian compatriots. Even in the hour of célébration they Lever forget themselves.

As for the célébration itself, too much in the way of praise cannot be said. It was digniiied, interesting and impressive. It was of course, strongly national, and the utmost good feeling prevailed. The présence of delegates from St. Jean Baptiste Societies residing in différent cities of the American Union, and the Canadian towns, in their gay uniforms added much to the beauty of the spectacle, while the military part of the pageant was exceedingly striking. The civilian élément too was largely represented, and afForded variety to the gênerai scène. The procession was one of the longest eA'^er seen hère. As it passed through our principal thoroughfares, headed by several excellent bands of music, words of admiration a.id

delight continually fell from the lips of the thousands of sppctators who lined the route on eitherside of the streets. The whole city was giveii over to enjoyment and holidaymaking. G-ood manag 'ment prevailed every where, and lent decornm to the proceedings.

" Of course, the religions and literary parts of the programme were conducted most impressively. The sermons and addresses, pertinent to the occasion, were in admirable temper and spirit. The oratory was oi a high order of merit, while the lesser speeches were in good taste, and eminently patriotic in tone. The un'veiling of the Cartier «Brébeuf monument, which owes its existence to Le Comité Littéraire et Historique du Cercle Catholique de Québec, and particularly to that zealous scholar and patriot, Mr. Ernest Gragnon, the life, soûl and guiding mind of the enterprise, was a sight upon which no one with a spark of vénération in his composition, could look unmoved. The shaft is a fitting mémorial to the great and intrepid navigator of St. Malo, and the brave Jesuit father whose name is inseparably linked to the cause of early Christianity and civilisation in New France. It was a happy idea to unveil this monument on St. Jean-Baptiste day, and it was done in the présence of countless thousands, and in a manuer worthy of the occasion, and of the subjects. The oration of the Hon. P. .1. O. Chauveau, F. R. S. C, was délicate, masterly and éloquent. He had a great thème, and he was equal to the task.

The sT)eeches at the dinner in the evening, were interesting and full of the voices of sentiment, of patriotism, and of good fellowship.

In the afternoon, Colonel Amyot and his brother officers of the 9thBattalion entertained Col. Dugas and the ofhcers ofthe65th Battaliou, at luncheon, and later in the day, the 9th Battalion, gave an " At Home " in honour of the visiting corps, in the Academy of Music, which was largely attended by invitedguests, among whom were verymany ladies. The whole célébration marks a red-letter day in \ he history of Québec.

To-day, the concluding cérémonies and festivities incident to the occasion will be proceded with. In the eve-

iiiug a î^raiid couoert will supply au appropriate fiiiishiug touch to the evont.

Niiie yfars ago, the St. Jean Baptiste célébration found its historian in Mr. H. .T. J. B. Chouinard. From his facile pen may we not this year expect a second volume, dealiugwith the events of Suuday, Monday and to-day."

IIEHE AND TIIKKE

Québec, Wednesday, June 26, 1889.

" The festivities connected with the célébration of St. Jean Baptiste day, tcrminated yesterday. The day was practically given over to King Sport, and we had games on the green and races on the water. "The weather was satisfactory in every way, ueither too warm nor too cold. Though the major portion of our visitors left us on Mondav evening, and yesterday forenoon and afternoon, there were still quite a large number of strangers in town, ail day and evening yesterday. The city to-day will likel)^ return to its normal state.

Every one unités in saying that the célébration was a splendid one in every respect, and worthy in every way, of those who took part in it. Strangers i'rom abroad say that they never beheld before a more orderly gathering of people in their lives. And this view is agreed to heartiiy by our citizens of both n9,tionalities. This year's célébration will long be remembered by our people as one of the grandest spectacles ever witnessed in Québec.

The dav's programme concluded with a grand literary and musical entertainment ai the Academy of Music, where Judge Routhier delivered an oration in his best style, eliciting applause and admiration at almost every sentence. The judge is one of our ablest public speakers. His manner is al ways graceful, his gestures are in thorough keepiug with the spirit of his literary performances, and his matter is ever striking. original and thoughtful. (3ne never tires of listening to éloquence ofthe sort which falls from his Honor's lips, and last night he equalledmany of the most brilliaut eiforts of his life. The concert itself,

was most eujoyable. " B " Battery, and the Septuor Haydn furnishedthe instrumental music. Madame Paquet, who was in excellent Yoice, sang very sweetly and with fine expression, Mr. P. Garrigue, Mr. Joseph Lamontagne and an efficient choir supplied artistically the vocal part of the evening's entertainment. The house was crowded, and everybody went home delight^d. And concluded he tliree da^'s célébration of the natal day of French Canada's patron saint."

" TJiE TOKOXTO MAIL " (' I

( Froiii our own Correapondeut

June 26, 1889.

Québec, June 24 — Twenty-five thousand people is a fair estimate of the Tast multitude that gathrred on the bauks of the Saint Charlos river this morning to witness the blessing and dedication of the Cartier- Brebeuf monumient, erected in honour of the Saint Malo navigator and the Jesuit fathers. Tt was a great day for the Freijch- Canadian people. From early morning thousands of habitants from ail parts of Canada and the neighbouriug Republic thronged the streets. The French tricolorfloated in ail directions and the greatness of New France was the thème of every discourse. It was an essentially national and religions démonstration. The Church and the State were united. as one of the speakers remarked, for the glory of the French-Canadian people. It was a magnificent opportunity to obain an idea of the spirit and aspirations of this peculiar people, who once defeated, (2) but not con-

(1) Cartier-Brt'beuf — Premier Mercii;r on Ihu jjrestMit Jc^iiit aoitatioii — Second (lay's célébration in the ancient capital — Hououring the uaviî^ator and the Jesuit raissionary — Distingiiished guests and an immense crowd présent — Celehratiou of Mass — Military honours— Cardinal Taschereau's address — ilr. Chauveau's oration. ,

(3) Nous sommes heureux de constater que le "3/(m7" admet la thèse soutenue par tous les Can;idieus-français, à savoir : que nous avons été défaits mais non coxQuis. S'il eui dit CÉDÉS au lieu de oéfaits, ileut été dans la stricte vérité, car si nous avons perdu la bataille des Plaines d'Abraham, en 17.59, nous avons fragné la bataille de Ste Foye. eu 17G0, la dernière qui ait été livrée avant l'odieuse cession, — jiour ne jias dire le lâche abandon — de Louis XV.

quorcd. hâve ariseu on thoriiiiis of New France aud are now strousr in their détermination to found and perpetuate a distinct French-Canadian nationality on the continent of America. Keligion was blended with nationality. The Cartier-Brebenf monument, one* of the speakers declared. was emblimatic of the union of Church and îState, and animated by one idea, the French-Canadian people turned out in their strength, and the expressions of the speakors \eït no room for doubt as to what are to be the lines on which the future programme is to be pursued. '* Nos institufiO' s, notre langue et nos lois,'' is the rallyinsr cry. AVhere the natural independence of each individual of the Anglo-Saxon race is often the cause of disaster and defeat, the adhesiveness of the French-Canadian race is one of the strongest sources of its power. They are a compact body, wielded by the influence of an allpowerfull institution. Against such a body it is easy for any impartial observer to see that the English people, dirided by party lines and anxious to conciliate the French vote, are virtually hopeless. The French-Canadiaus, not satisfied with bcing " masters of Québec," hâve cast longing eyes on the other provinces of the Dominion, aud now the dream of their leaders is to see Ontario, Manitoba, and the other provinces French. A leading French-Canadian said to me : — " In fifty years, by our natural increase, we shall number ten millions of people aud shall control Canada." That is the issue that the English people, too prone to be apathetic and to sacrifice their future interests for the sake of party, are called upon to face. The sooner they do so the better. No amount of harshlanguage, of wild aud bigoted fanaticism, will avail to stem the tide of French-Canadian nationalism, which is growing stronger every day. The French- Canadians will pursue their path towards a distinct nationality. The Church aud the State are to be unittd for this common object, and to-day's célébration was intended as a striking commémoration of this alliance.