Canada, as the result of specific contract, before Confederation, or whether wider national ideals shall prevail, such as encourage Catholics and Protestants alike, on the other side of the line, to use the same schools and Universities. Meanwhile English aloofness and stolidity are almost as much to blame as Church ascendancy for the cultivation of separate interests, and the slowness of the process of national unification. Both sections of the population are aware that the development of their common country, and even the integrity of confederation, depend on their harmonious cooperation. But in many matters they remain apart, and in none more than in regard to current proposals for Imperial consolidation. Mr. Henri Bourassa, for example, is of opinion that while his French-Canadian fellow-citizen has done his full duty to Great Britain, 'by the Empire he does not feel that he has any duty to perform' {Monthly Review^ October, 1902, p. 59). A hostile attack on Australia or New Zealand would not necessarily mean an3rthing to him, unless he happened to be in a mood to allow volunteers to go to the rescue. The programme of La Ligne Nationaliste, as published in the Canadian press, has probably never found its way into the English journals. It would be somewhat disturbing reading for optimists at home. Briefly, Canada is self-contained, and it is the peculiar mission of the French-Canadians—at least, as represented by Mr. Bourassa and La Ligne—to keep her so. Some of them will even discuss the admission of Newfoundland to Confederation from the point of view of its bearing on French-Canadian influence in the Dominion!
These are not the ideals which make for future greatness. At the same time they have to be reckoned with in a spirit of sweet reasonableness and calm expostulation, not of resentful recrimination. They are not in accord with the general trend of political thought at home, as represented by either or the two great parties. 'I believe that if anyone <5an suggest a scheme by which our self-governing Colonies can be brought
