TUE LESSON OF THE CELEBRATION

I have particij)ated in this célébration and hâve already dwelt upou several of its salient features. A few words in summing up. It must be borne in mind that this was not a national célébration in the true sensé of the word, in which Englishmen and Freuchmen could have joined hands.' Every Canadian could have raised his hand to do honour to the brave navigators of St. Malo, who dared the dangers of an unknown continent and opened a new

Tvorld to civilization. There is no Caiiadian who could not respect the cross of Christ, emblcmatic of the Christiaiiitv which blesses and enliglitens a poeple. There are noue ^^•ho, much as they may difFer from their aims and priuciples, will refuse the first meed of praise and houour to the heroic actions of the early Jesnit missionaries. But when an important historical event is made the occasion of a great French-Canadian jubilee, when the monument and the cross are declaredto be emblematic of adistinctive French-Canadian compact and the indissoluble alliance of the Church and the State, it is quite another alfair. Such is the plain meaning of the démonstration, and it is just as well that the English people sliould understand the issues uow preseuted to them. Und'. r the circumstances, it is not to be wondered at, that th(> inauguration of this monument, instead of being a Canadian afFair in which French and English could hâve united, was a distinct display of French-Canadianism or natioualism. Every item on the programme partook of this distinctive characteristic. The inauguration proceedings were French- Canadian and religions, the procession was a display of French-Canadian emblems, and the utterances at the closing banquet funiished the cap sheaf of the Nationalist propaganda. As a display and manifestation of French- Canadian uationalism, each of thèse events was a magnificent success, and the promoters deserve for their exertions.

PROGRAM OF PROCEEDINGS

On entering the grounds I was handed a programme of the proceedings, which was introduced by an article entitled " Le Canadien-Français," which contained some very novel and striking passages, calculated to rouse the national ardour of the people. " Before this name," said the writer, " nations bow with fespect, because the people which bear it count in its history pages rendered glorious by bravery, glory, and martyrdom. We are proud of the past, we are satisfied with the présent, and we hâve faith in the future." The glories of the past are vividly portrayed from a French-Canadian standpoint. For instance, " who will ever forget," says the narrator, those glorious

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" words of the Frencli-Groveruor to the emissary of the English Admirai Phipps, ' I will reply to yonr master by the mouth of my cannoii, that he may learn that this is not the way that they overcome a man like me.' " The writer also takes good care to tell that "VYolfe lost 6,000 on the Plains of Abraham, bnt no mention is made of the losses of the French General. After telling what they hâve been, the writer asks : " AVhat are we ? In 1760 Canada was ceded to England. Several thousands of the French preferred to return to their Mother country rather than submit to the yoke of proud Albion. We were only 60,000 soûls in what now forms the Province of Québec and after one hundred and thirty years of conliict for the conservation of our language, our institutions, and our laws, we are now more than two million. We are masters of the Province of Québec. We hâve entered the Province of Ontario. We count thousands of brethren in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, the North-West Territories. and British Columbia. (Jur compatriots number eight hundred thousand in the American Republic. Each State has its French- Oanadian colony. The French-Canadiau people are like an immense tree, whose vigorous and fruitful branches still protect under their shadow ail of the ancient New France. By guarding the faith of our fathers and strugglingwithout ceasing for the defence of our dearest rights we hâve become what we are. Our soil was fertilized by the blood of the Jesuits. The English wouldhave liked to annihilate us after the cession, and to-day we are légions in the face of persécution and fanaticism. We hâve raised the standard of loyalty, of patriotism, and of the faith, and we hâve triumphed." This is a pretty good exposition of the national idea.

ARIUVAL OF CAKDINAL TASCUEliEAU

It was not until 9.30 o'clock that the booming of salvos announced the arrivai of Cardinal Taschereau. His Eminence, attended by the members of his household, drove up to the grounds in his i^tate coach, a splendid vermilion-coloured équipage drawn by four black horses, and attend(>d by coachmen and postillons. His Eminence, who

was dressod in the full robos of a priuce of tho Church, prooeedod at once to the altar, where he was presented with an addivss by Mr. A. Robitaille, président of the Québec St. Jean Baptiste Society, who referred to the importance of the event and the scènes it was intended to commemorate. Cardinal Tascherean briefiy replied, reminding his hearers that the secret of their greatness was their fidelity to the Church. What a glorious occasion was the présent. Beside i\ fac->^inn'le of the cross whichthe great Jacques Cartier had erected they were after three centuries and a half to worship at the same altar at which he and his corapauions had knelt. God had indeed blessed the French- Canadian people, and this démonstration would mark the immutable alliance of the French-Canadians and the Catholic Church. His Eminence's words were received with loud applause. Having donned his sacred robes, Cardinal Taschereau proceeded to bless the cross and monument, and then the célébration of mass commenced.

Standing at the base of the Cartier-Brebeuf monument I was struck with the novelty and picturesqueness ofthe scène that lay before my eyes. ïhe bauks of the St. Charles and Lairet rivers were thronged v/ith a surging mass of French-Canadians. numbering alone nearly as many as the total population of New France after the socalled Conquest. In the river at the foot of the cross were anchored représentatives of the St. Malo ships. Beyond, in ail its striking picturesqueness, lay the ancieut city of Québec, and surrounding the altar were gathered priests. peoplc and the représentatives of the civil authority to hear mass conducted by a prince ofthe Church on the exact spot where, three hundred and fifty years ago, the Jesuits Dom Guillaume Lebn^ton and Dom Anthoine had celebrated it for a small handful of French adventurers, lost in the midst of the primeval wilderness. The mighty strains of the Credo, the Agnus, and the Domine Salvum arose from six hundred voices, and the music of the three bands and the réponses of the immense multitude produced a most impressive efF(îct. At the élévation the 65th Battalion and the 9th Voltigeurs presentedarms. The firing of a/(?w de Joie by the 65th, the 9th, and the Pontifical Zouaves, which was set down on the officiai

progTamine, was not caTried into efFect. At the conclusion of the mass the bands played " Vive la Canadienne," and other French-Cauadian national airs.

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS

Lient. -Go vernor Angers then presented the medals to the successfnl competitors for the historical essay on Jacques Cartier. Mr. Joseph Pope, Sir John Macdonald's private secretary, received the first prize, and Mr. Hiram P. Stephens, of Montréal, the second prize The récipients were presented to the Cardinal, who complimented them on the hononr.

THE ORATION

The spécial feature of the proceedings outside of the religions cérémonies was an oration by Mr. Pierre J. 0. Chauveau, ex-Premier of the province, ex-Speaker of the Dominion Senate, and now sherifF of Montréal. Mr. Chauveau in his discourse to-day maintained his high réputation as a scholar and a littérateur. His oration was a masterly exposition of the chief historical events of Jacques Cartier's career, and their bearing on the history of Canada. The Franco-Canadian nationality long beset by tempests and storms, as were the vessels of Jacques Cartier, after three centuries and a half had met from ail parts of the world to dedicate a monument emblematic of their religions faith and patriotism. This event was emblematic of the union that should always exist between the religions and civil society. Throughout ail the early discoverers of Canada, the central idea was the extension of the kingdom of God. The speaker justified the firm will of Jacques Cartier, who, he said, -vyas a man animated by the noblest sentiments and who was the leader of those immortal heroes who opened a continent to Christianity and civilization. He pronounced a glowing eulogy upon the Jesuit Fathers and the other religions orders of the colony, the fruit of whose labours was seen to-day in their magnificent institutions. New France, colonized under Henry IV., and receiving its institutions under Louis XIV., had become great by retaining its faith, and was now the prototype of old France. The

Churoh had beou the ooustant attendant and foremost iVit iid of the French-Canadiau people. What a glorious galaxy of distinguished men it had fostered, to whose prudence and courage they owed what they were to-day. He did not see why the citizens of other origins should be inimical to the French-Canadian people. Did not ail that they had doue, thoir progress in eyery field, add glory to the great Confédération of which they formed a part ? He knew there was a hostile sentiment abroad today, of which they were the innocent cause. There was one class who iudulged in insuit and bigotry. He would not deign to answer them. The best response to such people was the words on the banner of Carillon, " Aime Dieu et va ton chemin.'' (1) (Loud applause.) To those who were jealous of their progress and patriotism, he would say it was not a crime to remain true to their language and their institutions, and the St. Lawrence would turn back in its course before they abandoned their mother tongue and ceased to love their ancient mother country. (Loud and continued applause.) In conclusion, the speaker urged his compatriots in ail parts of the world to remain true to their race. Mr. Chauveau spoke for nearly three-quarters of an hour with great force and vigour, and was listened to with the deepest attention by the vast multitude.

After SherifF Chauveau's address, the great national procession was formed, and marched through the principal streets, which were liued with thousands of spectators.