784 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



rics of the province were enlarged, and Manitoba, instead of becoming 

 a second Quebec, promises to be a new and greater Ontario. 



Balked in their design to capture the great Northwest, the French- 

 Canadian leaders turned their attention to the easier task of " freezing 

 out " the small English-speaking element in Quebec. The population 

 of British origin, outside of Montreal, was principally in the Eastern 

 Townships and in the counties north of the Ottawa River, and formed 

 about one sixth of the whole. The French Canadians were offered in- 

 ducements to settle on the wild lands in the Eastern Townships. Con- 

 siderable numbers were, in this Avay led to return to their native 

 land. Wherever an English-speaking farmer was found willing to part 

 with his property, a French-Canadian purchaser was always at hand to 

 secure it. Where English-speaking owners of unpatented lands had 

 failed to comply with any of the numerous conditions of settlement, 

 their lots were confiscated, no refund was made of the purchase-money 

 or compensation allowed for improvements, and they were resold to 

 French Canadians. 



This policy, although inaugurated but three or four years before 

 the census of 1881 was taken, had such a marked effect that the returns 

 attracted attention and excited much comment throughout the Domin- 

 ion. While the entire population of the Province of Quebec bad in- 

 creased slightly, but steadily, during the decade, the English-speaking 

 population had remained almost stationary, and the disproportion be- 

 tween the two races had become more marked. And this had occurred 

 in face of the fact that there had been a large exodus of the French 

 population, not only to the New England States, but also to East On- 

 tario, where they filled up the gaps made by the movement of the On- 

 tario farmers to the Northwest. The English-speaking population are 

 being steadily rooted out, and their places filled by settlers of French 

 origin. Not content with wresting Quebec from the conqueror, the 

 French Canadians are spreading into New Brunswick on the east and 

 Ontario on the west. In the latter province they control two coun- 

 ties already, and will soon have majorities in two others ; and it is only 

 a question of time when they will have possession of the capital of the 

 Dominion, a consummation which the French-Canadian members of 

 the Dominion Cabinet are endeavoring to hasten by filling every va- 

 cancy in the civil service, so far as they can, with their countrymen. 



The rapid increase and aggressiveness of the French-Canadian race, 

 coupled with their determination to hold themselves aloof from the 

 other sections of the population, have led thoughtful men to despair of 

 the future of the Dominion. The hope that the confederation of the 

 provinces would bring about a fusion of the races must have died out 

 of the breasts of the most sanguine who have watched the agitation in 

 Quebec over the Northwest rebellion and the execution of Rich The 

 French throughout the Dominion have, with few exceptions, made 

 the cause of the rebel half-breeds their own, and exalted their mer- 



