CARDINAL TASCHEREAU

It was not until 9.30 o’clock that the booming ofsalvos announced the arrival of Cardinal Taschereau. His Eminence, attended by the members of his household, drove up to the grounds in his state coach, a splendid vermilion-coloured equipage drawn by four black horses, and attended by coachmen and postilions. His Eminence, who

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was dressed in the full robes of a prince of the Church, proceeded at once to the altar, where he was presented with an address by Mr. À. Robitaille, president of the Quebec St. Jean Baptiste Society, who referred to the importance of the event and the scenes it was intended to commemorate. Cardinal Taschereau briefiy replied, reminding his hearers that the secret of their greatness was their fidelity to the Church. What a glorious occasion was the present. Beside a fac-simile of the crôss which the great Jacques Cartier had erected they were after three centuries and a half to worship at the same altar at which he and his companions had knelt. God had indeed blessed the French- Canadian people, and this demonstration 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 sacied robes, Cardinal Taschereau proceeded to bless the cross and monument, and then the celebration of mass commenced.

Standing at the base of the Cartier-Brebeuf monument I was struck with the novelty and picturesqueness of the scene that lay before my eyes. The banks of the ‘St. Charles and Lairet rivers were thronged with 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 representatives of the St. Malo ships. Beyond, in allits striking picturesqueness, lay the ancient city of Quebec, and surrounding the altar were gathered priests, people and the representatives of the civil authority to hear mass conducted by a prince of the Church on the exact spot where, three hundred and fifty years ago, the Jesuits Dom Guillaume Lebreton 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 reponses of the immense multitude produced a most impressive effect. At the elevation the 65th Battalion and the 9th Voltigeurs presented arms. The firing of a feu de joie by the 65th, the 9th, and the Pontifical Zouaves, which-was set down on the official

456 FÊTE NATIONALE programme, was not carried into effect. At the conclusion of the mass the bands played ‘ Vive la Canadienne,” and other French-Canadian national airs.

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS

Lieut.-Governor Angers then presented the medals to the successful competitors for the historical essay on Jacques Cartier. Mr. Joseph Pope, Sir John Macdonald's private secretary, received the first prize, and Mr. Hirem P. Stephens, of Montreal, the second prize The recipients were presented to the Cardinal, who complimented them on the honour.

THE ORATION

The special feature of the proceedings outside of the religious ceremonies was an oration by Mr. Pierre J. O. Chauveau, ex-Premier of the province, ex-Speaker of the Dominion Senate, and now sheriff of Montreal. Mr. Chauveau in his discourse to-day maintained his high reputation 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 all parts of the world to dedicate a monument emblematic of their religious faith and patriotism. This event was emblematic of the union that should always exist between the religious and civil society. Throughout all 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, was 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 religious orders of the colony, the fruit of whose labours was seen to-day in their magnificent institutions. New France, colonized under Henry [V., and receiving its institutions under Louis XIV. had become great by retaining its faith, and was now the prototype of old France. The

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Church had been the constant attendant and foremost friend of the French-Canadian 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 out be inimical to the French-Canadian people. Did not all that they had done, their progress in every field, add glory to the great Confederation 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 indulged in insult 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 all parts of the world to remain true to their race. Mr. Chauveau spoke for nearly three-quarters of am 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 lined with thousands of spectators.