L ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
large native-born section of more than two and a-half millions of French 
Canadians, place their claim upon a distinctly different plane from that 
of any others of our people of non-English nationality. 
It was a great surprise to the writer —a western Canadian—on being 
at one time a resident of old Quebec, to hear the English-speaking 
Quebecer talk of the “Canadians,” meaning the French Canadians, and 
however much it has now been widened, we must admit their priority 
of right to its use. French is one of the classical languages of the world; 
it has a worthy, a brilliant literature; it is the European language of 
treaties. Such difference of language does not interfere with our unity 
of action and is entirely compatible with our Canadian unity. What 
does history show? The small but brainy land of Scotland—which has 
worked out a good many world-questions—shows us that one hundred 
and fifty years ago there were hostile races, speaking different tongues. 
Gulloden was a Saxon victory over the Highlander, as the taking of 
Quebec was over the French Canadian. The linguistic difference was 
probably more marked in Scotland than it was in Quebec. The High- 
lander is intensely fond of his Gaelic tongue. ‘There was largely a 
religious difference at that time as well. But in the battles of the 
empire, in the struggle for political liberty, and in the advance of educa- 
tion, the Highlander with 2 rocky and unresponsive soil, has made the 
nation as truly his own as has his Lowland fellow subject. The differ- 
ence between the Gael and Sassenach still continues; but they both sing 
with equal intensity “ Lochaber no more” or “Scots wha hae.” There 
is a substantial unity. 
A still older parallel is at hand. William the Conqueror captured 
England, and he and his nobles held it with a military grasp, severe 
almost beyond conception. The French language was used in the 
English parliament for three hundred years to the exclusion of English. 
Large numbers of Angevins occupied England; Mary of Guise brought 
many French people and French customs to Scotland. Thousands of 
French refugees carried their language ond their industrial arts to 
England in the 17th century, but English and French were thus united 
in making the dominant race of the world. The descendants of the 
French colonists are still allowed their worship in the crypt of Canter- 
bury Cathedral. Manitoba University is a union of interests which 
allows the use of French to its students in their examinations, and this 
Royal Society is a union of Literary and Scientific interests which shows 
the principle of a unity with diversity. Bound as we are to work for 
Canadian unity, we will not listen to the mere doctrinaire who forgets 
the old alliance, the old understanding, and the joint sacrifices in de- 
fending one’s native land. The old custom has not lost its fragrance. 
There is room for it yet even in a busy, practical, non-poetic age. 
