AS TE

of the disadvantages of correspondence is that one cannot write at such length as to render misunderstanding impossible — it would be waste of time to reader and writer.

Ï am sincerely sorry that I should have hurt your feelings, by any thing I said in my previous letter. I hesitated before I used the word ‘“* contempt ”’ but decided that there was no use writing you at all, if I did not write what [ believed to be the truth. I cannot imagine that you think that I expressed my own feeling or that of Englishmen who know French Canadians. Had it been my own feeling, I trust you know me well enough to believe that [ should never have expressed it to a French Canadian and least of all to you. I should nothave recommended as a remedy for the ee SAMnES between the races, more intimate acquaintance.

I referred to the large sn of English speaking people who do not know French Canadians — a comparately small number in this Province — the majority in Ontario and the West. They represent the traditional view of Englishmen, born of over 500 years of conflict between France and England culminating in the Napoleonice contest, when England fought France for her own life, just as now, she is fighting Germany with France’s glorious assistance. I still think I am right and that contempt will disappear with knowledge and contact, far more easily than hatred, which I am quite convinced does not subsist to any material degree.

As to “envy ” I believe I am right. Envy is not a glorious feeling, but it is surprisingly common among all classes and all nationalities — it is the natural feeling of those who have the ‘‘ dessous du pavé ”. (22) I do not say it is Justified or reason-

(22) Que le vilain sentiment de l'envie existe chez nous, comme ailleurs, il faut bien en convenir, mais que l’on dise : mépris anglais d’un coté, envie canadienne-française de l’autre, je ne peux en convenir. J'ai bien vu que des Anglais, parce que riches, nous méprisent ; l’on verra des nôtres envier la fortune des riches, à quelque nationalité au'ils appartiennent, on n’en trouvera pas qui Souba en d’être anglais, même pour être riches. L’arrogance, la morgue anglaises peuvent produire de l’ indignation, parfois de la colère: elles étouffent plutôt les germes d'envie... Nous nous sommes trop souvent rencontrés, M. Stuart et moi, sur d’autres terrains de discussion pour que je n’aie pas appris quel adversaire loyal, généreux même, il est toujours. Ma vieille et profonde estime pour son caractère lui sait gré d’une franchise d'expression qui, en somme,

able — but until men change greatly, money and what money commands, will always be envied by the majority who have not got them.

I was making no comparison between the qualities of the two races. I am quite well aware that in many qualities which make for true happiness, as distinguished from the possession of money, the French Canadians are superior to the English ; whether the average French Canadian would not give up such qualities in exchange for money is a question.

Personally I look back to many hours spent with French Canadians and in French Canadian Company as among the happiest of my life.

Do not bother answering this letter. I know you are very busy and I have no wish to add to your burthens.

Yours truly, GUSTAVUS G. STUART.

DE M. GEorGE M. WRONG, PROFESSEUR A L'UNIVERSITÉ DE Toronro (23)

TorontotAuge5, 1917 Dear Sir :

Ï have to thank you for sending to me at the University of Toronto your interesting pamphlet L’Appel aux Armes. Ttisa great pleasure to me to have your point of view and to know that voices such as yours are being raised in Quebec. Will you let

met à nu les sentiments de ‘‘ la moyenne de ses compatriotes ” ; il me permettra bien de garder le mot ‘‘ haine de races ”” : je préfère la haine au mépris. Et si nous ne pouvons nous entendre sur les mots, c’est peut-être que l’un ou l’autre, nous sommes victime du malentendu que tous deux nous déplorons ?...

(23) M. Wrong, homme de lettres, historien et publiciste, membre de la Société royale du Canada, est né en Ontario, et habite Toronto. Sa grande valeur intellectuelle et morale, et ses nombreux et solides travaux lui ont acquis une réputation d’intellectuel sincère et averti, une autorité incontestée.

me say one or two things quite plainly, for I feel that you and I alike are seeking only the truth.

1. You are quite mistaken in saying that there is or was in Ontario, outside of a few fanatics, any desire to attack the rights of the French Canadians. No doubt there are fanatics in Toronto, and they are often very insulting in their tone, but out of six daily papers in Toronto only two have made bitter attacks on the French and they are evening papers with no wide circulation beyond Toronto. è

2. While intemperate language has been used on both sides, Ï ound on investigating the subject that the school of thought of M. Bourassa (whom I know and whose personal character Ï respect) was chiefly responsible for making trouble over the Bi hHngual question. TI will ask you to accept a book “ The new Era in Canada ” which I am sending by this mail and I will ask vou to let me know whether I have stated fairly in my essay on The Bi-lingual Question, the facts of the case. T may say to you that, until Quebec held back in regard to the war, the anti-French feeling in Toronto was largely confined to a few professional politicians.

3. With you I deplore the backwardness of Quebec in regard to conscription. Ï have long been a friend and supporter: of Sir Wilfrid Laurier but he struck a deadly blow at the unity

.0f Canada and to the respect for Quebec in other parts of Canada when he gave his support to Mr. Bourassa’s agitation in regard to conscription. ‘The last thing in the world that Ï have desired is to become a supporter of Sir Robert Borden, but this Î must avow myself, for, in spite of the gross and even eriminal things done by some members of Sir Robert Borden's government, he stands now for the nation’s honour.

How could those whose dearest have died in France support a leader who, like Sir Wilfrid Laurier, would abandon on that red field the companions who still survive ?

I know that you feel as I do about this. (24) I beg you to

(24) Une mise à point est nécessaire. M. Wrong a un fils au front, un autre est mort en France au champ d'honneur, et ces deux enfants étaient les petits-fils de M. Blake qui fut avant M. Laurier chef du parti libéral ; entrainé sans doute par sa légitime douleur et son anxiété, mon éminent correspondant élargit le