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male!Cersei = CesareThe age differential between Cesare/Jaime and Tyrion is the same. Joanna still dies giving birth to Tyrion. Tywin does not get remarried.1. Cesare is the heir to the Rock.Cesare was born before Jaime, making him the heir to the Rock. He is unbearably arrogant and proud. Since there are no negative repercussions for young men who have sexual relationships, Cesare will sleep with numerous servants, prostitutes, and the daughters of his father’s lesser bannermen. Cesare will leave a slew of bastards all around the Westerlands.2. No twincestJaime is not in love with his older brother. Jaime is 100% straight. Unlike other POV characters who showed interest in members of the same sex— Cersei sleeps with Taena, Daenerys sleeps with her handmaiden Irri, and Jon notes how beautiful Satin is in a way that could be construed as sexual— Jaime never once demonstrates interest or desire in men.Cersei’s sexuality is less clear-cut, but the root of her infatuation with Jaime is being able to control her more privileged, male counterpart; As Tywin’s oldest son, Jaime would have inherited the Rock and become a lord paramount, and Cersei would be married off to the highest bidder. By sleeping with Jaime, she felt as if she were embodying the version of herself she should have been— Tywin Lannister’s son and heir. In this scenario, Cesare would be the heir to the Rock and wouldn’t have any twisted, jealous sexual obsession with Jaime.3. Cesare and Jaime have an antagonistic relationship.Cesare deeply dislikes Jaime.1] Jaime’s swordfighting skillsAlthough he is equally handsome and tall, Cesare lacks his younger brother’s skills with the sword. Jaime was a one in a million prodigy with the sword; The chance of both twins being rare genius swordsmen is extremely low. Cesare is competent; He wouldn’t embarrass himself in tourneys, but he is far outshone by Jaime.2] Their proximity in ageSince they are so close in age, Cesare is deeply paranoid that Tywin would replace him with Jaime as heir. Tywin might even encourage some “friendly” competition between them.I’m not sure who Tywin would prefer among his two golden sons; He is exceedingly proud of Jaime’s swordfighting skill, but he might appreciate how sly and intelligent Cesare is.Although Jaime doesn’t have any ambition to displace his older brother, Cesare always suspects him of subterfuge.Jaime recognizes his older brother’s jealousy and anger, and he distances himself from Cesare.1] Because he is not in love with Cesare, Jaime does not view him through rose-tinted glasses.For over 30 years, Jaime deluded himself into thinking that Cersei loved him as much as he loved her. However, Jaime is not in love with Cesare and he has no reason to fool himself into thinking that his older brother is a good person.Cesare does not flatter Jaime. To maintain Jaime’s devotion, Cersei pretended to love him and presented herself sweetly to him when needed. Cesare is a man and the heir, so he has no reason to appeal to his little brother.4. Tywin quits his position as Hand much earlier.Because Tywin was such an able administrator, Aerys became jealous and started insulting him in public, downgrading his ideas, and hitting on his beloved wife, Joanna. Tywin was very upset when Aerys rejected his proposal to marry Cersei to Rhaegar, but he stuck on because he hoped that the frail Elia would die and Cersei could become Rhaegar’s wife #2. He only quit when Aerys inducted Jaime into the Kingsguard, depriving Tywin of his heir.In this scenario, Tywin would have no reason to stick around because he has no hopes of making his daughter queen. He would quit right after Tyrion’s birth; Aerys made a horrible comment that the gods punished Tywin for reaching above his station by killing his beautiful wife and giving him a monster son. In the real timeline, Tywin gritted his teeth and fantasized about his half-Lannister grandson on the throne; In this alternative timeline, he has no reason to suffer Aerys’ insults. Infuriated, he pleads illness and says he wants to mourn his wife and comfort his sons. Aerys agrees to let Tywin retire.5. Cesare marries Catelyn Tully.1] Tywin is more proactive about finding a blue-ribbon bride for Cesare. Because he is not fixated on making his daughter queen, all of his ambition is directed toward making good marriages for his sons.Tywin’s fixation on the prospect of his daughter becoming the queen led him to be lax in searching for Jaime’s wife.Tywin had made no plans for Jaime’s marriage until he was 15 and began negotiating with Hoster Tully for Lysa’s hand.In the real timeline, Jaime was the second-most eligible bachelor in Westeros, only after Rhaegar. Jaime was the heir to the wealthiest house in the country, he was incredibly handsome, he was a prodigy with the sword. Any House in the country would be thrilled to have him as a son-in-law.By the time Tywin started looking for Jaime’s bride, many eligible women were off the table. Elia Martell was married to Rhaegar, Catelyn Tully was engaged to Brandon Stark, Lyanna Stark was engaged to Robert Baratheon. Because Margaery wasn’t born yet and Asha is a baby, Lysa was the only unmarried paramount daughter left.Tywin will only accept the daughter of a lord paramount for Cesare.After Joanna had died, the ruling princess of Dorne visited Casterly Rock to offer Elia for Jaime and Oberyn for Cersei, which Tywin brusquely refused. This indicates that Tywin wanted the daughter of a lord paramount or better for Jaime.Tywin is not going to “settle” for a lesser girl for his heir; He won’t look at the daughters of Westerlands bannermen or powerful secondary houses like a Hightower, Florent, or Royce.The options are Elia, Catelyn, Lyanna, Asha, and Lysa. Tywin’d already rejected Elia, indicating that he thought that Dorne was too small and unimportant to provide a bride for his heir. He’d dismissed Lyanna as a half-wild wolf girl, and he thought of the North as a frozen wasteland. The Greyjoys have a negative reputation as robbers and rapers, and the Iron Islands are the poorest and smallest region. This leaves the Tully girls.2] Tywin deems that Cat is better than Lysa.Lysa was pretty and sweet, but Cat was obviously more beautiful and intelligent and shrewd than her younger sister. Tywin asks Hoster to match Cesare to Cat.Cesare is pleased with the match; Although he’s not capable of love, he’d be excited that his future bride is beautiful and from a powerful family.3] Hoster eagerly accepts Cesare as a son-in-law.Tywin might approach Hoster for Cat’s hand before Rickard does.After Joanna dies and he rejects Elia, Tywin would realize that he needs to make a match fast.Hoster and Rickard had brokered a match between Brandon and Cat in 276–7, when Cat was 12. At that time, Jaime was 10.Even if Rickard asks for Cat’s hand before Tywin, Hoster would disregard his gentlemen’s agreement with Rickard in favor of Tywin.Hoster would be ecstatic when Tywin proposes to match Cesare to Cat; Cesare will one day be the richest man in the country, and the Rock is a prime piece of real estate. He would infinitely prefer that his daughter be “Lady Lannister” than “Lady Stark.”I’m not sure exactly when Hoster and Rickard began negotiating for Cat to marry Brandon, but even if they’d already begun talking about it, Hoster would drop Brandon Stark in a heartbeat for Cesare Lannister. Instead, he’d offer to match his younger daughter Lysa to Brandon.Tywin wasn’t insistent on Cat rather than Lysa. However, if Hoster says that Cat is for Brandon, Tywin would be so offended that he’d reject Lysa for Cesare.4] They marry in a lavish ceremony in Casterly Rock.Tywin takes this as an opportunity to demonstrate the wealth and might of Casterly Rock.Since Brandon and Lysa will marry at Riverrun, Tywin decides that he wants Cesare’s wedding to Cat to be much grander and more extravagant.There is a public bedding, cementing their union.6. Lysa is betrothed to Brandon Stark.Since there was a shortage of paramount daughters, Rickard allows Brandon’s suit to move from Cat to Lysa. If Rickard approaches Hoster at around the same time he asked for Cat’s hand, Lysa is 8~11 years old when she is engaged to the 14~15 year old Brandon Stark.Lysa does not sleep with Littlefinger. She had been almost engaged to Jaime, the handsome, golden knight, when he’d unexpectedly been inducted into the Kingsguard. Then, she’d turned her attention toward her childhood friend, hoping to marry Petyr. Now, her engagement to the dark, handsome Brandon occupies her dreams and she forgets about her childish crush. She would not dare sleep with Littlefinger; If she loses her virginity, her betrothal to Brandon would be broken, and she would be married off to an unworthy Riverlands bannerman like Walter Frey’s eighth son.7. Jaime does not join the Kingsguard.Cersei had planted the idea to make Jaime a Kingsguard in Aerys’ mind. She had wanted to marry Rhaegar and be queen, but she wanted her beautiful brother right next to her. She also didn’t want Jaime to ever be able to marry or have children, making her his only woman.In this scenario, Cesare has no need to be in the capital. As a man, he never had any desire or expectation that he’d marry Prince Rhaegar. Furthermore, Cesare hates Jaime; Even if he were in the capital, he’d want Jaime to be as far away as possible.Cesare MIGHT want Jaime to join the Kingsguard so that he cannot ever challenge him for the Rock, but he would have no opportunity to make that happen.1] He’s not in the capital.If he left the Rock to the Red Keep and Jaime was immediately inducted into the Kingsguard, Tywin might suspect his oldest son. If he finds out that Cesare convinced Aerys to push him into the Kingsguard, Tywin would be so livid that he’d beat Cesare within an inch of his life.Cesare has never been to the capital so he can’t suggest in the king’s presence that he should induct Jaime into the Kingsguard; Cersei had been living in the Red Keep for some time, so she could innocently mention something near Aerys during breakfast.2] That could backfire.Cesare is smart enough that he’d recognize that this strategy might spectacularly backfire on him; Aerys might decide that Tywin would be even more offended if he snatched his heir away from him. Then, Cesare would be a Kingsguard, and Jaime would inherit the Rock and marry Cat.Cesare decides that the risks of utilizing the impulsive king far outweigh the possible benefits.8. Cesare kills Littlefinger.Hoster formally announces his daughter Catelyn’s betrothal to Cesare Lannister. I will assume that it is approximately the same time, when Cat is 17~18, and Cesare is 16.Littlefinger, who’d been in love with Cat for so long, is devastated. He challenges Cesare to a duel for Cat’s hand, as he had challenged Brandon.Cesare, not wanting to seem a coward, accepts. Cat begs Cesare not to kill Littlefinger and gives him her favor to wear. Cesare agrees so to seem gallant and understanding, but he grows irritated when Littlefinger refuses to accept his multiple offers to let him yield.Although he is not an exceptional swordsman like Jaime, Cesare is still much better than Littlefinger. He is strong and tall and had been trained by Casterly Rock’s master-at-arms for years. He thrashes the short and wimpy 15-year-old. When Littlefinger refuses to give up, Cesare skewers him through the heart.Repercussions:Cat is horrified by her childhood friend’s brutal death, but she convinces herself that Cesare had given Littlefinger multiple opportunities to yield. She resolves to forget Littlefinger and move on.Lysa is hysterical and thinks that Cesare is a monster.Hoster is chagrined at having to tell Littlefinger’s father, whom he had fought with in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, that his future son-in-law killed Littlefinger. However, he is mostly relieved that Cesare was unharmed in the duel.Tywin mildly scolds Cesare for scaring his new bride, but ultimately he doesn’t care; Littlefinger’s family is so weak that there is no chance of retribution or a damaged reputation that would accompany Cesare if he’d killed anyone of importance. Besides, multiple eyewitnesses can attest to the fact that Littlefinger had demanded the duel and refused Cesare’s offers to let him yield.Cesare is unrepentant, but he charmingly apologizes to Cat for killing her friend.9. Jaime is unmarried for now.After making such a splendid match for Cesare, Tywin is confident with letting Jaime remain unmarried for quite some time. He hopes that a spectacular match will open up eventually; Maybe Jaime could marry Margaery Tyrell, Brandon and Lysa’s Stark daughter, Robert and Lyanna’s daughter, Desmera Redwyne, or even Princess Rhaenys. Most of the high-ticket ladies are off the table now, in 10 or so years more options will open up. Jaime would be in his late 20s or early 30s, with plenty of time to sire children.10. Robert’s Rebellion still breaks out.The presence of male!Cersei doesn’t prevent Rhaegar from “kidnapping” Lyanna, Brandon from riding to King’s Landing, Aerys from murdering Brandon and Rickard, or Aerys from demanding Ned and Robert’s heads.The North, Stormlands, and Vale rise up agains the crown. Hoster ultimately decides to side with the rebels: If the royalists win, Aerys would probably demand Hoster’s head for betrothing his daughter to Brandon. It’s better to strike first.11. Lysa marries Ned Stark.In exchange for Hoster’s soldiers and support, Ned, the new lord paramount of the North, agrees to marry his dead brother’s fiancee, Lysa Tully. They hold a quickie wedding at Riverrun, and Ned rides off to war. Lysa is displeased that her husband is the sullen, long-faced Ned, instead of the handsome, dangerous Brandon.12. Tywin declares for the rebels.In the real timeline, Tywin had 2 reasons for not declaring for either side.1] Aerys held Jaime hostage.To prevent Tywin from declaring for either side, Aerys refused to let Jaime leave the capital. Tywin knew that Aerys would not hesitate to shivv his precious heir if he declared for the rebels.2] Tywin hoped to marry Cersei to Rhaegar after the war.If the royalists won, Rhaegar would one day be king. Since Elia was so frail, she might die soon, with a little help. Either way, she would be unable to have any more children; The only obstacle for Cersei’s children to become king is Aegon. And surely, a child could fall down a flight of stairs, get a bad fever, fall off a horse, or eat rotten seafood. After such a tragedy, Cersei’s son with Rhaegar would be propelled to the front of succession.In fact, Tywin only decided to switch for the rebels when he found out Rhaegar died; He had no hope for the success of the Targaryen monarchy after that.Neither of these conditions exist.1] Jaime is at the Rock.Jaime was never inducted into the Kingsguard. Tywin has both of his beloved sons at his side.2] There is no benefit to the Targaryens winning.Tywin has no daughter to try and push to be queen.Even if Tywin fights for the royalists, Aerys would not reward him; Instead, the selfish king would preen and state that Tywin was only fulfilling his duty as his servant.In fact, Tywin has much to benefit from the rebels winning.1] Hand of the KingHe might regain his position as Hand of the King. He had wielded enormous influence as Aerys’ Hand; He repealed Aegon V’s smallfolk-friendly laws, and he created favorable laws for the merchants and traders of Lannisport.2] A position on the Small Council for JaimeAn excellent option for second sons of powerful families, who will not inherit lands of titles, is to join the Small Council. Jaime could bring Tyrion with him, so that the shrewd Tyrion does all of the work as Master of Laws or an untitled adviser, and the personable Jaime can advocate for Lannister interests.3] A Lannister girl as a princessIf either Jaime or Tywin relocated to the capital, Jaime or Cesare’s daughter could live in the Red Keep. Tywin would hope that one of Robert’s prince-sons would fall for his granddaughter.Although both Cesare and Jaime become battle commanders, Tywin makes sure to keep both of his sons away from dangerous situations. For example, both are in charge of 10s of thousands of men and have no real chance of getting injured or captured.13. Rebels win.With Tywin’s extra 60,000 Westerlands men and gold, the rebels ground-stomp the royalists to the ground.The Tyrells and Redwynes are taken aback when Tywin joins the fight. During the real war, they only lent half-assed support to the royalists— staking out Storm’s End instead of actually sending troops. Now that the Westerlands also rose against the throne, the Tyrells decide to stay mostly neutral but help both sides. For example, they look the other way when Tywin sends in ships filled with food to Storm’s End (Tywin wants to get in good with Robert by saving his brothers). As the war progresses, the Tyrells and Redwynes might even decide to actively switch sides and free Stannis, in hopes of currying favor with the future king.14. King’s Landing blows up.Since Jaime isn’t there to kill him, Aerys blows up King’s Landing, killing himself, Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon, Varys, Pycelle, and hundreds of thousands of King’s Landers. The rest of Westeros is horrified and decide that all the Targaryens were insane.The Martells are furious at the Targaryens. Rhaegar insulted their precious Elia and abandoned their children for some teenager. Then Aerys killed Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon while evacuating his own wife and two children. They never have “beef” with the Lannisters; Doran never agrees to a Targaryen restoration with Varys.15. Storm’s End is the new capital.As the capital is blown up, Robert decides to hold court in the Stormlands. He gives Dragonstone to Stannis, but he has no holding to give to Renly. Stannis is not insulted, because Renly didn’t get something more than he did.16. Robert remains unmarried for now.Lyanna still dies. Robert needs to marry a powerful woman— the daughter of a lord paramount. Unfortunately, all of them are already married (Catelyn, Lysa), too young (Margaery, Arianne), dead (Lyanna, Elia), or not powerful enough (Asha). Even the daughters of the most powerful secondary families are unavailable. Wynafryd Manderly and Desmera Redwyne are babies; The Hightower girls are all married; Selyse is too ugly for the vain Robert; Freys are not prestigious enough.Jon Arryn, whom Robert appoints to be his Hand, urges Robert to appoint Stannis as his heir and wait until an eligible woman comes along.As strange as it sounds, Robert could marry1] Cesare and Cat’s daughter2] Ned and Lysa’s daughter17. Stannis still marries Selyse.Robert had two reasons for matching Stannis to Selyse1] Selyse is from a prestigious, powerful Reach house. Since the Reach was nominally royalist, Robert needs to check their power. By matching the king’s brother to a strong Reach woman, Robert could have a tenuous hold on the Reach.2] Selyse is ugly and has a mustache. Robert thought it was funny to match such a shrew to his sullen brother.Aftermath:1) Cat and Cesare have several children, but they have an icy and loveless marriage.Cesare is able to sire multiple children. Cersei had had three physically healthy children without especial difficulty. None of the Lannister men had had any trouble siring children.In the real timeline, Catelyn had had 5 healthy children and 0 miscarriages and 0 stillbirths. She was practically a childbirth unicorn.Cat and Cesare have at least 3 healthy children, securing the Lannister succession.Because the Tullys are so powerful, Cesare does not beat or rape Cat. However, he doesn’t view marriage as a reason for him to stop seeing other women.Cat resented Ned for keeping his bastard at Winterfell.Although he wouldn’t raise his bastards at Casterly Rock, Cesare would have many more and with more significant women. Officially, Jon’s mother was a nameless commoner and couldn’t pose a threat to Cat. Cesare could have children with noble women, whom he’d have to acknowledge. For example, Delena Florent was noble enough that Robert had to acknowledge Edric as his son. Cesare will leave a slew of Hills all over the region.Cat would deeply resent Cesare, but she would grit her teeth and focus her attention and love on her children instead.2) Jaime (and Tyrion) become the Master of Laws.Now that Cesare is married and has legitimate children, Jaime has almost no chance of inheriting the Rock. Second sons, even if they belong to a prestigious house, don’t score excellent marriages. Tywin wouldn’t want Jaime to marry an heiress and take her name, either.In the real timeline, Renly was the Master of Laws during Robert’s reign. But when Robert becomes king, Renly is only 6 years old. Tywin, who was an enormous support to the rebels, innocently asks if his son Jaime might occupy that position. Given that Robert made Jon Arryn his Hand instead of Tywin and that Robert hasn’t taken a Lannister bride (yet), Robert considers this a fair boon to grant to ensure the Westerlands’ continuous support.Jaime and Tyrion leave the Rock for King’s Landing. A Master of Laws doesn’t necessarily have to be intelligent and book-smart; Renly thought book learning was stupid and achieved that position by good old-fashioned nepotism. However, Tywin would see this as an opportunity to advance Lannister interests (which requires a smart, bookish person) and get rid of his irritating, ugly third son (the smart, bookish Tyrion); Tywin recognizes that Jaime is a brilliant swordsman but a poor academic. He also knew how smart Tyrion was, but he didn’t want his son (even his least favorite) to be a maester and serve others.Tyrion studies the laws, makes advantageous trade laws for Lannisport, and decreases taxes for the highest lords (like his father). Jaime actually attends the Council meetings and use his charm to pass these regulations; Since he’s not thought of as a Kingslayer, everyone likes the affable, laid-back Jaime. Jaime and Tyrion have always been very close, so they have a good time in King’s Landing.Cesare is delighted to be rid of both of his brothers— the handsome one who was a threat to his own inheritance, and the ugly one who always had his nose stuck in a book.3) Cesare is a decent heir/lord to the Rock.Cesare is content in being heir to the lord of the Rock. There is no real higher position than that in Westeros, besides being king.Tywin and Kevan do the real grunt work of maintaining the region. Tywin send ravens to and from Jaime/Tyrion often to negotiate good laws and regulations for the Westerlands and to get insider gossip in the Red Keep.When Tywin eventually dies, Cesare is a decent lord of the Rock. He understands quid pro quo. Although he has terrible judgment in people, Kevan is his sturdy castellan and most of the offices are already filled by Tywin-approved people. Cat is a worthy mistress; Although she resents her husband, she is diligent in maintaining upkeep of the Rock and entertaining visiting lords.4) Lysa and Ned have several children, but they have a distant relationship.Ned had sired 5 healthy children in the real timeline; There’s nothing to indicate that he can’t do the same here.Lysa wasn’t forced to take an overdosage of moon tea.It’s unclear which was responsible for their continued failures to have children— Jon’s infertility or Lysa’s moon tea.Jon had been married twice before, but he’d had multiple stillbirths and miscarriages. He’d given up on siring children of his own; He was fine with making his nephew his heir until he was murdered by King Aerys.Lysa had become pregnant with Littlefinger’s baby. When she excitedly went to her father in hopes of gaining his blessing to marry Littlefinger, Hoster instead forced her to take moon tea. In his eagerness to destroy the fetus, Hoster gave her an overdosage of the abortifacient. Lysa nearly bled to death, and she became mentally unstable afterward.In the interim between Brandon’s death and her betrothal to Ned, Lysa wouldn’t sleep with another man. She had a built-in rebound guy in Littlefinger, because he was her childhood crush and first love. Now that Littlefinger is dead, she doesn’t have a convenient second option. She wouldn’t want to marry a random squire or stableboy, so she’d sullenly remain chaste.Lysa resents that Ned brought his bastard, Jon Snow, to live with them. She is much more passive-aggressive toward Jon than Cat was; She refuses to allow Jon to learn from the same maester who teach her sons; She tells her children not to associate with their bastard half-brother.5) Cesare and Cat’s oldest daughter marries Robert and becomes queen.Cesare and Cat’s daughter is very suitable to be queen. Her father will one day be the lord paramount of the Westerlands. Her mother is the daughter of the lord paramount of the Riverlands. Marrying her ties the Westerlands and the Riverlands to the throne.Instead of making Tywin Hand, Robert instead makes his granddaughter queen. Although Robert wanted to join his house with Ned’s, I believe he’d feel awkward about sleeping with Ned’s daughter.The age differential between Robert and his wife is around 20 years. Robert would be in his mid-to-late-30s by the time he can consummate his marriage with his bride.This is not unreasonable.Renly had been planning for Robert to marry Margaery, who has 20 years younger than him.The 37-year-old Corlys Velaryon had married the 18-year-old Princess Rhaenys.Since Stannis is married to Selyse and has a daughter, Robert’s lack of an heir does not destabilize the realm.I’m not sure if she will have bastards like Cersei did.Yes:By the time she can consummate the marriage, Robert will be morbidly obese and unattractive, hardly the kind of man a young girl dreams of. If you want a historical example, the grossly fat and foul-tempered Aegon IV took the nubile Barba Bracken as his favorite mistress; Barba found sex with him distressing, and she had an affair with the handsome Kingsguard, Ser Toyne.Regardless of her personality, Robert will mostly ignore her and dream of Lyanna.A 13-year-old girl usually follows her whims. As the new queen, she’d be surrounded by sycophants and admirers. If she falls for a handsome squire or cupbearer, she might be vain and headstrong enough to think that she could carry on an affair in secret.No:Isolated in court, she might be too terrified to buck her orders of her new husband.Most women of that time accepted their disgusting husbands; Cersei was a rare exception in deciding to horn her husband.She would be raised by Cat. Although Cesare would instill in her a belief that Lannisters are always superior, Cat would try and temper her worst urges and train her to be loyal to her husband, the gods, and her parents.Robert is less cruel to her than he was to Cersei. He was able to blame Cersei and the “Lannister invasion” on why his rule was unsuccessful. In this timeline, he can’t really blame a 13-year-old for his buffoonish behavior during his 20-year reign, which she wasn’t present for. He would mostly ignore his new bride and treat her as a human vending machine to pop out his heirs, instead of a hated enemy. He would undoubtedly rape her (Marital rape isn’t recognized as rape in Westeros) and keep numerous prostitutes, but he wouldn’t beat her or degrade her.

I wondered how I could answer this question, then I remembered several visitors left comments about us in our history. Some testimonies are going to be lenghty. Most of them will be French and British here, but I also found a Finno-Swedish and an Austrian. If I think of other testimonies, I will add them.The Onondaga leader Otreouti (Iroquois Confederacy) in 1684[Au gouverneur français de la Nouvelle-France] « Nous avons introduit les Anglais dans nos lacs pour y trafiquer avec les Outaouais et les Hurons. De même que les Algonquins ont conduit les Français à nos cinq villages pour y faire un commerce que les Anglais disent leur appartenir. Nous sommes nés libres. Nous ne dépendons ni d'Onnontio [le gouverneur de la Nouvelle-France] ni non plus de Corlaer [près d'Albany]. Il nous est permis d'aller où nous voulons, d'y conduire qui bon nous semble, d'acheter et de vendre à qui nous plaît. Si tes alliés sont tes esclaves ou tes enfants, traite-les comme des esclaves et comme des enfants. Ôte-leur la liberté de ne recevoir chez eux d'autres gens que les tiens. »[To the French governor of New France] “We have introduced the English to our lakes to trade with the Ottawas and the Hurons. Just like the Algonquins brought the French to our five villages to do a trade the English pretend being theirs. We are born free. We depend neither from Onnontio [the French governor] neither from Corlaer [near Albany]. We are allowed to go wherever we please, to bring along whoever we want, to buy and sell to whoever we please. If your allies are your slaves or your children, treat them like slaves and like children. Remove them the liberty of inviting in their homes other peoples than yours.”(Some Québec auto-criticism, that shows well the 17th century situation)The Frenchman Claude-Charles Le Roy de la Potherie in 1697–1701Les personnes du sexe [féminin] de ce dernier Etat [la bourgeoisie] ont des manieres bien differentes de celles de nos Bourgeoises de Paris & de nos Provinciales. On parle ici parfaitement bien, sans mauvais accent. Quoi qu'il y ait un mélange de presque toutes les Provinces de France, on ne sauroit distinguer le parler d'aucune dans les Canadiennes. Elles ont de l'esprit, de la délicatesse, de la voix, & beaucoup de disposition à danser.The persons of the sex [female] of this last Estate [bourgeoisie] have quite different manners from those of our bourgeoises of Paris & our Provincials. Here they speak perfectly well, without bad accent. Despite there is a mix of almost all the provinces of France, one would not tell apart the speech of any among the Canadiennes [women]. They have spirit, finesse, some voice & a lot of disposition to dance.The Frenchman the baron of Lahontan in 1703« […] les Canadiens ou Créoles* sont bien faits, robustes, grands, forts, vigoureux, entreprenans, braves et infatigables, il ne leur manque que la connoissance des belles Lettres »[…] the Canadiens or Créoles* are well shaped, robust, tall, strong, vigorous, enterprising, brave and tereless, the only thing that is missing from them is the knowledge of the belles-lettres*We were also called Créoles, which is the same word as Criollios in Castillan. The name kept being used for the French colonists of Louisiana.« Sans mentir, les paysans y vivent plus commodément qu’une infinité de gentilshommes en France. Quand je dis paysans je me trompe, il faut dire habitants, car ce titre de paysan n’est pas plus reçu ici qu’en Espagne, soit parce qu’ils ne payent ni sel ni taille, qu’ils ont la liberté de chasser et de pêcher ou qu’enfin leur vie aisée les met en parallèle des nobles. »Without lying, the peasants live here more cosily than an infinity of gentlemen in France. When I say peasant I am mistaken, one should say inhabitants, because this title of peasant is not any better received here than in Spain, either because they do not pay either sel or taille [these are taxes], they have the liberty of hunting and fishing or finally their eased life puts them in parallel to nobles.At the same moment, the bishop of Saint-Vallier was horrified by the behaviour of the Canadiens. He said they would not care enough about the religion and about the formalities in the church, about the behaviour of women (it was too free). Women even dared to enter the churches without their head covered. Women dared to expose their throats and their shoulders. In the summer, even men would sometimes be naked (just in shirt, without pants) due to the heat. He was also shocked that children of both sexes would be allowed to sleep together.The horses were also so common Canadiens would be blamed of using them too much and being lazy. They were also blamed for sometimes daring to dress with clothes that were reserved to nobles. Some complained they were too eager to adopt indigenous customs.The Finno-Swedish botanist Pehr Kalm in 1749French are in general more prone to religious matters and prayer than English or Dutch.A certain number of women are quite lazy, immitating the Englishwomen in these things: they stay sat on a chair the whole day looking at the sky and doing nothing.The ladies of Montréal seem prettier than those of Québec city, and when they belong to the high society, they surpass a lot the latters in the field of chastity […], the woman of Québec city is in general as lazy as an Englishwoman and even more prone than her to sentimental issues…Between the extreme politeness that I benefited here [in Montéal] and the one of the English provinces, there is all the difference that separates the sky and the land…Nobles from here are more interested and take greater pleasure in Natural history and knowledge than English colonists in general. Most of those exile themselves to get rich and fill their pockets and only consider knowledge as a distraction… [Incidentally, the Quebecers believed the same thing about themselves. The bishop Louis-Adolphe Paquet would say 150 years later: Our mission is less to handle capitals than handling ideas.]I have never met people funnier than them, always cheerful and in good mood, deeply brave and that show that nothing is impossible to overcome…Everyone here take for granted the common people speak in Canada a purer French than any province of France and that they can, definitely, even rival with Paris. It is Frenchmen born in Paris themselves, that were forced to aknowledge it. [Remember most people did not speak French in France then.]The common people in Canada are more civilized and more ingenious than any other place in the world I went to.Hugh Finlay, member of the Legislative Council, 1789“School teachers should be English if we are to make these Canadians English […]. We could completely Anglicize the people by introducing the English language. This will be done through free schooling…”The Bostonian rebel and spy, the colonel John Brown, in 1775(Retranslated from a French translation)The French of Canada constitute a sort of people that know no other way to get riches and honour than by making of themselves court sycophants ; and, as the introduction of the French laws will give posts to the small French nobility, they gather around the governor.They [the people of La Prairie] appear to have no indisposition against the colonies, but they rather prefer to remain neutral.A Bostonian rebel officier in 1775(Retranslated from French)The Canadians of this side of the river are well devoted to us in general, almost unanimously on the Sorel river [Richelieu actually], where they are all enrolled under the arms. Here, they are not as active; but I think they will start to move themselves now, because they seem worried of the reduction of Saint John, and because they did not believe the Bostonians - like they call us - were very ardent until the taking of that fort. […] One could not find more hospitable people than the Canadians. When you enter the house of an inhabitant, at any hour at all, he puts in front of you a bread and a bowl of milk.The lieutenant-governor Cramahé in 1775(Retranslated from French)Possesing strenght, the rebels have on their side the canadian peasants, that neither the zealed efforts of their nobility, of the clergy or the bourgeoisie would convince to fulfill their duties. We could not either persuade them or force them to. Two battalions, this spring, could have saved the province. I doubt that twenty of them could take it back.The Frenchman Crèvecœur in 1780« Mal gouvernés comme ils l’étaient, il est étonnant de remarquer combien ils étaient prospères et heureux ; ils étaient dans un état de parfaite subordination, leur gouvernement s’immisçait en toute chose mais ne pouvait changer leurs opinions ; ils étaient aussi libres que les hommes devraient l’être sans rien qui remette en question leur liberté ; ils étaient téméraires sans être tumultueux ; ils étaient actifs sans être agités, ils étaient obéissants sans être serviles, ils étaient vraiment un nouveau peuple respectable pour leurs coutumes, manières et habitudes ; encore aujourd’hui les Indiens aiment le nom de Canadiens, ils les considèrent davantage comme leurs compatriotes que les Anglais. »Badly governed as they were, it is surprising to notice how much they were prosperous and happy; they were in a state of perfect subordination, the government would involve itself in all things but could not change their opinions ; they were as free as men should be with nothing that would question their liberty ; they were reckless without being turbulent, they were active without being agitated, they were obedient without being servile, they really were a new people respectable for their customs, manners and habits ; even today the Indians like the name of Canadiens, they consider them more like compatriots than the English.Hugh Finlay, letter to Evan Nepean, February 13th, 1787"Some people affect to call the King's Natural born subjects, new Canadians. He who chose, say they, to make Canada his place of residence lost the name of Englishman. The Old Canadians are those we conquer'd in 1760 and their descendants, the new Canadians are composed of emigrants from England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Colonies now the United States. By the Act of the 14th year of his present Majesty [Quebec Act] they are converted into Canadians, and Canadians they must ever remain. This doctrine is pleasing to the Noblesse or gentry of the Country, who will not easily get rid of French prejudices; but to cherish a predilection for everything that is french, is not, in my opinion, the most likely means to make Englishmen of the Canadians. It is held here by some of His Majesty's natural born subjects, that the natives of this Province ought, as much as is possible, to be kept unmixed and unconnected with the other Colonists, to serve as a strong barrier, between our Settlements and the United States"The Frenchman Constantin-François de Volney in 1803Le langage des Canadiens de ces endroits n'est pas un patois comme on me l'avait dit, mais un français passable, mêlé de beaucoup de locutions de soldats.The language of the Canadians of these places is not a patois like I was told, but an average French, mixed with a lot of expressions of soldiers.The American Francis Hall in 1816–1817The Canadian peasant is still the same unsophisticated animal whom we may suppose to have been imported by Jacques Cartier.The Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville, in 1831Conversation with Mr. Quiblier, Father Superior of the Seminary at Montreal [he was a Frenchman].He. - I do not think there is a happier people in the world than the Canadians. They have very gentle manners, neither civil nor religious dissensions, and they pay no taxes. […]Q. Is the Canadian race taking expansion?A. Yes. But slowly and little by little. It does not have this adventurous spirit or this scorn for birth and family ties which characterize the Americans. The Canadian goes as far as the extremity of his church's bell and his parents will settle as close as possible. However the movement is great, as I was saying, and it will centuplicate I think with the increase of knowledge.Conversation with Messrs Mondelet, lawyers from Montréal (they are locals).Q. In what proportion does the French population stand to the English in Canada?A. Nine to ten. But almost all wealth and trade are in the hands of the English. They have their families and connections in England and so have opportunities not open to us. […]Q. What is the position of the clergy? Have you noticed among them the political tendencies which they are alleged to have in Europe?A. Perhaps one might detect in them a secret tendency to rule or direct, but it amounts to very little. Generally speaking our clergy are conspicuously nationalist. That is partly a result of the situation in which they find themselves placed. From the time immediately after the conquest up to our own days, the English government has worked in underhand ways to change the religious convictions of the Canadians, so as to make them a body more homogeneous with the English.So the interests of religion came to be opposed to the government and in harmony with those of the people. Hence whenever we have had to struggle with the English, the clergy have been at our head or in our ranks. They have continued to be loved and respected by all.So far from being opposed to ideas of liberty, they have preached themselves. All the measures we have taken to promote public education, which have been pretty well forced through against the will of the English government, have been supported by the clergy. In Canada it is the Protestants who support aristocratic notions. The Catholics have been accused of being demagogues. What makes me suppose that the political color of our priests is peculiar to Canada, is that the priests who occasionally arrive here from France show, on the contrary, a compliance and docility towards authority which we cannot understand.25th August 1831 - Travel to Quebec onboard the John Molson steamboatExternal appearance: Canada is beyond comparison, of those parts of America which we have visited so far, that which bears the greatest analogy to Europe and, especially, to France. The banks of the Saint Lawrence are perfectly cultivated and covered with houses and villages in every respect like our own. All traces of the wilderness have disappeared; cultivated fields, church towers, and a population as numerous as in our provinces has replaced it.The towns, Montreal in particular (we have not yet visited Quebec) bear a striking resemblance to our provincial towns. The basis of the population and the immense majority is everywhere France. But it is easy to see that the French are a conquered people. The rich classes mostly belong to the English race.Although French is the language most universally spoken, the newspapers, the notices and even the shop-signs of French tradesmen are in English. Commercial undertakings are almost all in their hands. They are really the ruling class in Canada.I doubt if this will long be so. The clergy and a great part of the not rich but enlightened classes is French, and they begin to feel their secondary position acutely. The French newspapers that I have read, put up a constant and lively opposition against the English. Up to now the people having few needs and intellectual interests, and leading, in material things, a very comfortable life, has very imperfectly glimpsed its position as a conquered nation and furnished but feeble support to the enlightened classes. But a few years ago the House of Commons, which is almost all Canadian, has taken measures for a wide extension of education.There is every sign that the new generation will be different from the present generation, and in a few years from now, if the English race is not prodigiously increased by emigration and does not succeed in shutting the French in the area they now occupy, the two peoples will come up against one another. I do not think that they will ever merge, or that an indissoluble union can exist between them. I still hope that the French, in spite of their conquest, will one day form a fine empire on their own in the New World, more enlightened perhaps, more moral and happier than their fathers. At the present moment the division of the races singularly favours domination by England.Conversation with Mr. ... at Quebec (English merchant)Q. Do you have something to fear from the Canadians?A. No. The lawyers and rich people who belong to the French race hate the English. They offer a violent opposition to us in our newspapers and in their House of Commons. But it is just words and that's it. The greater part of the Canadian population does not have political passions and in fact almost all the wealth is in our hands.Q. But do you not fear that this numerous and compact population today without passion might have some tomorrow?A. Our number rises everyday, we will soon have nothing to fear on this aspect. The Canadians have even more hatred against the Americans than against us.Note: In speaking of the Canadians a very visible feeling of hatred and scorn was being painted on the phlegmatic physiognomy of Mr. ...27th August 1831 - QuebecThe country between Montreal and Quebec seems to be as populous as our fine European provinces. Moreover the river is magnificent. Quebec is on a very picturesque site, surrounded by a rich and fertile countryside. Never in Europe have I seen a more lively picture than that presented by the surroundings of Quebec.All working population of Quebec is French. One hears only French spoken in the streets. But all the shop signs are in English; there are only two theaters which are English. The inner part of the town is ugly, but has no analogy with American towns. It strikingly resembles the inner part of our provincial towns.The villages we saw in the surroundings are extraordinarily like our beautiful villages. Only French is spoken there. The population seems happy and well-off. The race is notably more beautiful than in the United States. The race there is strong, and the women do not have that delicate, febrile look that characterizes most of the women of America.The Catholic religion there has none of those accessories which are attached to it in those countries of the South of Europe where its sway is strongest. There are no monasteries for men, the convents for women are directed towards useful purposes and give examples of charity warmly admired by the English themselves. One sees no Madonnas on the roads. No strange and ridiculous ornaments, no ex-votos in the churches. Religion is enlightened, and Catholicism here does not arouse the hatred or the sarcasms of the Protestants. I own for my part that it satisfies my spirit more than the Protestantism of the United States. The parish priest here is in very deed the shepherd of his flock: he is not at all an entrepreneur of a religious industry like the greater part of American ministers. One must either deny the usefulness of clergy, or have such as are in Canada.I went today in a lecture cabinet. Almost all the printed newspapers of Canada are in English. They have about the same dimension as of those of London. I did not yet read them. In Quebec City a newspaper called the Gazette, half-English, half-French; and a newspaper absolutely French called the Canadien. This newspapers have more or less the dimension of our French newspapers. I have carefully read some issues: they offer a violent opposition to the government and even to all that is English. The epigraph of the Canadien is: Our Religion, Our Language, Our Laws. It is difficult to be more frank. The contents answers the title. All that can inflame both great and small popular passions against the English are carefully reported upon in this newspaper. I have seen an article in which it was said that Canada would never be happy until it had an administration that would be Canadian by birth, by principle, ideas, prejudice even, and that if Canada escaped England, it would not be to remain English. In this same newspaper one could find pieces of French verses that were quite nice. Was reported upon a distribution of prizes where the students had played Athalie, Zaïre, la Mort de César. In general the style of this newspaper is common, mixed with anglicisms and strange expressions. It resembles a lot the newspapers in the Vaud canton in Switzerland. I have not yet seen in Canada a single man of talent, nor read a production proving it. The one who must awaken the French population, and rise it against the English is not yet born.The English and the French merge so little that the latter exclusively keep the name of Canadiens, the others continuing to call themselves English.Visit of a civil court in QuebecWe came into a large hall divided into tiers crowded with people who seemed altogether French. The British arms were painted in full size on the end of the hall. Beneath them was the judge in robes and bands. The lawyers were ranked in front of him.When we came into the hall a slander action was in progress. It was a question of fining a man who had called another pendard (gallows-bird) and crasseux (stinker). The lawyer argued in English. Pendard, he said, pronouncing the word with a thoroughly English accent, "meant a man who had been hanged." "No", the judge solemnly intervened, "but who ought to be". At that, counsel for the defense got up indignantly and argued his case in French: his adversary answered in English.The argument waxed hot on both sides in English, no doubt without their understanding each other perfectly. From time to time the Englishman forced himself to put his argument in French so as to follow his adversary more closely; the other did the same sometimes. The judge, sometimes speaking French, sometimes English, endeavored to keep order. The crier of the court called for "silence" giving the word alternatively its English and its French pronunciation.Calm re-established, witnesses were heard. Some kissed the silver Christ on the Bible and swore in French to tell the truth, the others swore the same oath in English and, as Protestants, kissed the other side of the Bible which was undecorated. The customs of Normandy were cited, reliance placed on Denisart, and mention was made of the decrees of the Parliament of Paris and statutes of the reign of George III. After that the judge: "Granted that the word crasseux implies that a man is without morality, ill-behaved and dishonorable, I order the defendant to pay a fine of ten louis or ten pounds sterling."The lawyers I saw there, who are said to be the best in Quebec, gave no proof of talent either in the substance or in the manner of what they said. They were conspicuously lacking in distinction, speaking French with a middle class Norman accent. Their style is vulgar and mixed with odd idioms and English phrases. They say that a man is "charge" of ten louis meaning that he is asked to pay ten louis. "Entrez dan la boite", they shout to a witness, meaning that he should take his place in the witness-box.There is something odd, incoherent, even burlesque in the whole picture. But at the bottom the impression made was one of sadness. Never have I felt more convinced than when coming out from there, that the greatest and most irremediable ill for a people is to be conquered.Conversation with John NeilsonJohn Neilson, member of Parliament in Lower CanadaMr. Neilson is a Scot. Born in Canada [sic] and related by marriage to Canadians, he speaks French as easily as his own language. Mr. Neilson, although a foreigner, may be regarded as one of the leaders of the Canadians in all their struggles with the English government. Although he is a Protestant, for fifteen years continuously the Canadians have elected him as a member of the House of Assembly. He has been an ardent supporter of all measures favouring the Canadians. He with two others was sent in 1825 [sic] to England to plead for redress of grievances. Mr. Neilson has a lively and original turn of mind. The antithesis between his birth and his social position leads sometimes to strange contrasts in his ideas and in his conversation.Q. What does Canada cost the English government in the current year?A. Between 200,000 and 250,000 sterling pounds.Q. Does Canada bring in anything for it?A. Nothing. The customs dues are used for the colony. We would fight rather than give up a penny of our money to the English.Q. But what interest has England got in keeping Canada?A. The interest that great lords have in keeping great possessions that figure in their title deeds, but cause them great expenses and often involve them in unpleasant lawsuits. But one could not deny that England has an indirect interest in keeping us. In case of war with the United States, the St. Lawrence provides a passage for goods and armies right into the heart of America.In case of war with the peoples of Northern Europe, Canada would supply the timber for building which she needs. Besides the cost is not as heavy as one supposes. England is bound to rule the sea, not for the glory of it, but for existence. The expenses which she is obliged to incur to gain that supremacy make the occupation of her colonies much less costly for her than they would be for a country only interested in intercourse with its colonies.Q. Do you think the Canadians will soon throw off the English yoke?A. No, at least unless England forces us to it. Otherwise it is completely against our interest to make ourselves independent. We are still only 600 [000] souls in Lower Canada; if we became independent, we should quickly be enfolded by the United States. Our people would, so to say, be crushed under an irresistible mass of immigrants. We must wait till we are numerous enough to defend our nationality. Then we will become the Canadian people. Left to themselves the people here are increasing as fast as in the United States. At the time of the conquest in 1765[sic] we were only 60,000.Q. Do you think the French race will ever manage to get free from the English race? (This question was put cautiously in view of the birth of the man to whom I spoke.)A. No. I think the two races will live and mix in the same and, and that English will remain the language of official business. North America will be English; fortune has decided that. But the French race in Canada will not disappear. The amalgam is not as difficult to make as you think. Here it is above all the clergy who sustain your language. The clergy is the only enlightened and intellectual class which needs to speak French and which speaks it unadulterated.Q. What is the character of the Canadian peasant?A. In my view it is an admirable race. The peasant is simple in his tastes, very tender in his family affections, very chaste in morals, very sociable, and polite in his manners; with all that he is very well suited to resist oppression, independent and warlike, and brought up in the spirit of equality. Public opinion has incredible power here. There is no authority in the villages, but public order is better maintained there than in any other place on Earth. If a man commits an offence, people shun him, and he must leave the village. If a theft is committed, the guilty man is not denounced, but he is dishonoured and obliged to flee. There has not been an execution in Canada for ten years. Natural children are something almost unknown in our country districts.I remember a talk with XX (I have forgotten his name); for two hundred years there had not been a single one; ten years ago an Englishman who came to live there seduced a girl; the scandal was terrible.The Canadian is tenderly attached to the land which saw his birth, to his church tower and to his family. It is that which makes it so difficult to induce him to go and seek his fortune elsewhere. Besides, as I was saying, he is eminently sociable; friendly meetings, divine service together, gatherings at the church door, those are his only pleasures. The Canadian is deeply religious; he pays his tithe without reluctance. Any one could avoid that by declaring himself a Protestant, but no such case has yet occurred. The clergy here is just one compact body with the people. It shares their views, takes part in their political interests, and fights with them against the powers-that-be. Sprung from the people, it only exists for the people. Here it is accused of being demagogic. I have never heard that that is a complaint made against Catholic priests in Europe. The fact is that they are liberal, enlightened and nonetheless deeply believing, and their morals are exemplary. I myself am a proof of their tolerance; a Protestant, I have been elected ten times by Catholics to our House of Commons, and I have never heard it suggested that anyone had ever tried to create the slightest prejudice against me on account of my religion. The French priests who come here from Europe, have the same moral standards as ours, but their political approach is absolutely different.I told you that our Canadian peasants have a strong social sense. That sense leads them to help one another in all moments of crisis. If one man's field suffers a disaster, it is usual for the whole community to set to work to put it right. Recently XX's barn was struck by lightning; five days later it had been rebuilt by the voluntary work of neighbours.Q. There are still some traces of feudalism here?A. Yes, but so slight that they are almost unnoticed: 1) The lord receives an almost nominal rent for the land which he originally granted. It may for instance be 6 to 8 francs for 90 acres [about 135 English acres]. 2) Corn must be ground at his mill, but he may not charge more than the maximum fixed by law, which is less than one pays in the United States where there is freedom and competition. 3) There are dues for lods et ventes, that is to say that when feudally held land is sold, the seller must give one twelfth of the purchase price to the lord. That would be rather a heavy burden, were it not that the strongest determination of the people is to remain invincibly attached to the land. Those are all the traces of feudalism that remain in Canada. Beyond that the lord has no titular rights and no privileges. There is not and cannot be any nobility. Here, as in the United States, one must work to live. There are no tenants. So the lord is normally a farmer himself. However, no matter how equal the footing on which the lords now stand, there is still some fear and some jealousy in the people's attitude towards them. It is only by going over to the popular party that a few of them have succeeded in getting elected to the House of Commons. The peasants remember the state of subjection in which they were held under French rule. One word lingers in their memory as a political scarecrow, that is the taille. They no longer know exactly what the word means, but for them it stands for something not to be tolerated. I am sure they would take up arms if there were an attempt to impose any tax whatever to which that name was given.Q. What conditions of eligibility are there for entry into your House of Commons?A. There are none.Q. Who are qualified as voters in the country districts?A. Anyone with 41 francs income from land is a voter.Q. Have you no fear of such a great mass of voters?A. No. All the people have some property and are religious and order-loving; they make good choices and although they take a great interest in the elections, there are hardly ever disturbances at them. The English tried to introduce their system of corruption, but it ran completely aground against the moral standards and honour of our peasants.Q. What is the position with regard to primary education?A. It is a long story. In the time of the French there was no education. The Canadian always had a weapon in his hand. He could not spend his time at school. After the conquest the English were only concerned for their own people. Twenty years ago the government wanted to start education, but it took the matter up clumsily. It shocked religious prejudices. It gave the impression that it wanted to get control of education and to direct it in favour of Protestantism. That at least is what we said, and the scheme ran aground. The English said that the Catholic clergy wanted to keep the people in ignorance. Neither side was telling the truth, but that is the way parties do speak. Four years ago our House of Commons saw clearly that if the Canadian population did not become educated, it would end up by being entirely absorbed by a foreign population that was growing up by its side and in its midst. Speeches were made, encouragement was given; funds were raised and finally school inspectors were appointed. I am one and I have just completed a tour of duty. Nothing could be more satisfactory than the report which I have to make. The impulse has been given. The people are most active in taking advantage of the chance to get educated. The clergy are all out to help us. We have already got in our schools half the children, about 50,000. In two or three years I am confident we will have them all. Then I hope the Canadian people will begin to leave the river banks and advance towards the interior. At present we stretch about 120 leagues along both sides of the St. Lawrence, but our line is seldom as much as to leagues in depth. However beyond that there is excellent land which is almost always given away for nothing (that is literally so) and which could easily be cultivated. Labour cost 3 francs in the villages and less in the country. Food is very cheap. The Canadian peasant makes all necessities for himself; he makes his own shoes, his own clothes and all the woollen stuffs in which he is dressed. (I have seen it.)Q. Do you think French people could come and settle here?A. Yes. A year ago our House of Commons passed a law to repeal the aliens legislation. After seven years' residence the foreigner becomes a Canadian and enjoys citizen's rights.We went with Mr. Neilson to see the village of Lorette three leagues from Quebec, founded by Jesuits. Mr. Neilson showed us the old church built by the Jesuits and told us: "The memory of the Jesuits is adored here." The houses of the Indians were quite clean. They themselves spoke French and have an almost European appearance despite their costume being different. All all were half-breeds. I was surprised not to see them farm the land. Bah! told me Mr. Neilson, these Hurons are gentlemen, they would think it a dishonour to work. Scratching the earth like bulls, they say, that is meant for French or English. They live from hunting and small crafts done by their women.Q. Is it true the Indians have a predilection for the French?A. Yes, it is undeniable. The French who are perhaps the people who best preserves their original trace, and yet who more easily bears for a while bear the mores, ideas, and prejudices of those among whom they live. That is by becoming Indians that you obtained from the Indians an affection that still endures.Q. What has happened to the Hurons who showed such a constant affection for the French and played such a great role in the history of the colony?A. They assimilated little by little. They were however the greatest Indian nation on this continent. They could arm up to 60,000 men. You see what remains. We think that almost all the Indians of North America have the same origin. There are only the Esquimaux from the Hudson Bay who evidently belong to another race. There, all is different: language, canoes... I was telling you a little earlier of your aptitude to become Indians. In Canada we had mostly such a race of men now almost entirely extinguished who were excellent in this matter. They were the agents of the fur trade known as the Voyageurs. They were recruited among the whole population. I do not believe that intrepidity and spirit of adventure was even pushed further. They were surprising and subjugating the Indians themselves in their forests.Mr. Richard, Catholic priest, is sent to the Congress by a protestant population. Mr. Neilson is protestant, and sent to the Commons of Canada by a Catholic population. Do these facts prove that religion is better understood or that its strength is weakening? They prove, I think, one and the other.28th August 1831 - Village of Lorette, near QuebecMr. Neilson came to look for us today to take us to see the country. (As for Mr. Neilson, his character and position, see the conversation.) This walk could not have given us a more favourable impression of the Canadian population.We found well-cultivated fields and houses redolent of well-being. We went into several. The main room is furnished with excellent beds; the walls are painted white. The furniture is very clean. A little mirror, a cross or a few engravings of scriptural subjects complete the whole. The peasant is strong, well-built, well-clothed. His welcome has the frank cordiality which the American lacks; he is polite without servility, and receives you on a footing of equality but obligingly. Among those we visited there was even something of distinction in their manners which struck us. (It is true that we were taken to see the first families in the village).All in all this race of men seemed to us inferior to the Americans in knowledge, but superior in qualities of the heart. One had no sense here of that mercantile spirit which obtrudes in all the actions and sayings of an American. The Canadian's power of reasoning is little cultivated, but it is simple and straightforward; they undoubtedly have fewer ideas than their neighbours, but their sensibility seems more developed; theirs is a life of the heart, the others' of the head.29th August 1831 - Village of Beaufort, near QuebecToday we went on horseback to visit the countryside without a guide.In the commune of Beaufort, two leagues from Quebec, we saw the people coming out of church. Their dress indicated the greatest well-being. Those who came from a distant hamlet were returning there by carriage. We broke away into the paths and gossipped with all the inhabitants whom we met, trying to turn the talk to serious matters. This is what seemed to come out of these talks:1st. Up to now great well-being prevails among them. The land in the neighbourhood of Quebec is sold extremely dearly, as dearly as in France, but it also brings great returns.2nd. The ideas of this population still seem little developed. But they already feel very clearly that the English race is spreading round them in alarming fashion; that they are making a mistake in shutting themselves up in an area instead of spreading over the still free land. Their jealousy is vividly excited by the daily arrival of newcomers from Europe. They feel they will end up being absorbed. We can see that all that is being said on this subject animate their passions, but they do not clearly see the remedy. The Canadians fear leaving the sight of their church, they are not astute. - "Oh! you are very right, but what can you do?" These are their answers. They clearly feel their position as a conquered people, not counting on the goodwill, I would not say of the government, but of the English. All their hopes are fixed on their representatives. They seem to have that exaggerated attachment to them, and especially to Mr. Neilson -"But he is English", they said to us, as if in astonishment or regret- which oppressed people generally have for their protector. Several of them seemed perfectly to understand the need for education, and to take lively pleasure in what had just been done to help it on. All in all we felt that this population could be led, although still incapable of leading itself. We are coming to the moment of crisis. If the Canadians do not wake out of their apathy, in twenty years from now it will be too late to do so. Everything indicates that the awakening of this people is at hand. But if in this effort the middling and upper classes of the Canadian population abandon the lower classes, and let themselves be carried in the swing with the English, the French race is lost in America. And that would truly be a pity, for there are here all the elements of a great people. The French of America are to the French of France as the Americans are to the English. They have preserved the greater part of the original traits of the national character, and have added more morality and more simplicity. They, like them, have broken free from a crowd of prejudices and false points of departure which cause and will cause all the miseries of Europe. In a word, they have in them all that is needed to create a great memory of France in the New World. But will they ever succeed in completely regaining their nationality? That is what is probable without unfortunately being certain. A man of genius who would understand, feel and be capable to develop the national passions of the people would have an admirable role to play here. He would soon be the most powerful man in the colony. But I do not yet see him anywhere.There already exist at Quebec a class of men who form the transition between the French and the English: they are the English allied to the Canadians, the English unhappy with the administration, and Frenchmen holding offices. This class is represented in the periodical press by the Gazette de Québec, mix of English and French, in the political assemblies by Mr. Neilson and probably several others that we do not known. It is this class I fear the most for the future of the Canadian population. It does not excite its jealousy, nor its passion. On the contrary it is more Canadian than English by interest because it is opposed to the government. Deep down, however, it is English by mores, ideas and language. If it were ever to take the place of the upper classes and the enlightened classes among the Canadians, their nationality would be lost forever. They would vegetate like the Bas-Bretons in France. Hopefully religion puts an obstacle to marriages between the two races, and creates inside the clergy an enlightened class whose interest is to speak French and feed on French literature and ideas.We were able to notice in our talks with the people of this country, a basis of hatred and jealousy of the lords. But the lords have, so to say, no rights; they are, as much as one can be, of the people, and are almost all reduced to cultivating the soil. But the spirit of equality and democracy is alive there as in the United States, although it is not so rationalistic. I found again at the bottom of the hearts of those peasants the political passions which brought about the Revolution and which are still the cause of all our ills. Here they are inoffensive, or almost so, since nothing stands against them. We thought, too, that we noticed that the peasant did not see the clergy's right to levy the tithe without repugnance, and that he was not without envy contemplating the wealth which this tax put into the hands of some ecclesiastics. If religion ever loses its sway in Canada, it will have been by that breach that the enemy has come in.As the French, the Canadian peasant has a gay and lively spirit, there is almost always something sharp in his repartee. One day I asked a farmer why the Canadians were letting themselves be restrained in narrow fields, while they could find twenty leagues away from their homes fertile and uncultivated lands. - "Why", he said to me, "do you love your wife better, even though the neighbour's has prettier eyes?" I found there was a real and profound feeling in this reply.The French gazettes of Canada contain everyday prose or verse literature, something one never finds in the vast columns of the English papers.31st August 1831 - Leave Quebec aboard the steamboat Richelieu for MontrealWe went today with Mr. Neilson and with a Canadian called M. Niger (?) along the left bank of the Saint Lawrence as far as the village of Saint Thomas 10 leagues from Quebec. That is where the Saint Lawrence widens out to 7 leagues, a width it keeps for 50 leagues. All the countryside we went through was wonderfully fertile; with the Saint Lawrence and the mountains to the North it formed the most complete and magnificent picture.The houses are universally well built. They are redolent of comfort and cleanliness. The churches are rich, but rich in very good taste. Their interior decoration would not seem out of place in our towns. Note that it is the commune itself that imposes its own taxes to keep up the church. In this part of Canada one hears no English. All the population is French, and yet when one comes to an inn or a shop, the sign is in English.****Mr. Neilson said to us today in speaking about the Indians: These peoples will disappear completely, but they will fall victims to the pride of their spirit. The least among them thinks himself at least equal to the Governor of Quebec. They never will adapt themselves to civilization, not because they are incapable of behaving like us, but because they scorn our way of living and consider themselves our superiors.1st September 1831General remarks.We have remarked through the conversations we have gad with several Canadians that their hatred was directed even more towards the government than towards the English race in general. The instincts of the people are against the English, but many Canadians belonging to the enlightened classes did not appear to be to be animated, to the degree we had believed, of the desire to preserve intact their original trace, and to become a completely separate people. Several have appeared to us not far from assimilating to the English, if these were to adopt the interests of the country. It is thus to be feared that over time and especially with the Irish Catholic emigration, that the fusion be realized. It can only be operated detrimentally to the French race, language and mores.But it is certain that:1. Lower Canada (luckily for the French race) forms a State apart. Now the French population in Lower Canada is in the proportion of ten to one to the English. It is compact. It has its government and its own Parliament. It really forms the body of a distinct nation. In a Parliament of eighty-four members, there are sixty-four French and twenty English.2. Up to now the English have always kept to themselves. They support the government against the mass of the people. All the French newspapers voice opposition, all the English ones support the ministry, with only one exception, The Vindicator, at Montréal, and that too was started by Canadians [sic].3. In the towns the English and the Canadians form two societies. The English make a parade of great luxury; none of the Canadians have more than very limited wealth; thence jealousy and small-town bickering.4. The English have all the export trade and the main controls of internal trade in their hands. Yet another cause of jealousy.5. The English are daily getting possession of lands that the Canadians regard as reserved for their race.6. Finally the English in Canada show all the traits of their character, and the Canadians have kept all the traits of French character.So the odds are strongly in favour of Lower Canada finishing up with an entirely French population. But they will never be a numerous people. Everything around them will become English. It will be a drop in the ocean. I am very much afraid that, as Mr. Neilson said in his frank, brisk way, fate has in fact pronounced and North America will be English.2nd September 1831 - Leave Montreal by steamboat Voyageur for La PrairieWe have seen a great number of ecclesiastics since our arrival in Canada. It appeared to us that they constituted the first class among the Canadians. All those we have seen were educated, polite, well raised. They speak French with purity. In general they are more distinguished than most of the curates of France. One can see in their conversation that they are all Canadians. They are united by heart and interests to the population and talk about their needs very well. They however appeared to have a feeling of loyalty towards the King of England, and in general sustained the principle of legitimacy. Yet one of them told me: "We now have every reason to hope, the ministry is democratic." Today to do opposition, tomorrow they might very well do rebellion if the government were to become tyrannical. All in all, this people prodigiously resembles the French people. Or rather they are still French, trait for trait, and consequently perfectly different from the English populations surrounding them. Gay, lively, mocking, loving glory and noise, intelligent, eminently sociable, their mores are sweet and their character is obliging. The people in general is more moral, more hospitable, more religious than in France. There is only in Canada that one can find what we call a bon enfant (good child) in France. The English and the American is either coarse or cold.A peasant was telling me: "While we never come an argument with them, the English are not honest."Five or six years ago [sic]11 the English government wanted to unite the whole of Canada in one assembly. That was the measure best designed to completely dissolve the Canadian nation, so the whole people rose at once and it is from that time that it knows its strength.Several parish priests told me that in their parish there was not a single individual talking English. They themselves did not understand English at all, and used us as interpreters.The appointment of militia officers is a function of government, but the House of Commons having decided that to be a militia officer it is necessary to reside in the place in question, the result has been to put the command of the armed force almost exclusively in the hands of Canadians.A Canadian told me today that the debates in the House of Commons were lively and hot-headed, and that often hasty resolutions were taken of which one repented when heads had cooled. Might he not have been speaking about a French House?The Scot Adam Thom, in 1835Biography – THOM, ADAM – Volume XI (1881-1890) – Dictionary of Canadian BiographyAnti-gallic Letters Addressed to His Excellency, the Earl of Gosford, Governor-in-chief of the Canadas [microforme]How long does your lordship imagine, that freeborn Englishmen will patiently dig in the mines for the benefit of French taskmasters? Conciliation, my lord, is at least a new principle in policy, for it compels the conquerors to pay tribute to the conquered. If your lordship can pardon a bitter jest, I may compare the conquest of Canada to a donkey-race, in which the most ignoble animal carries off the prize. If your lordship can pardon another, I may consider a conciliatory government as giving vindictive damages against the heroic Wolfe, for having assaulted, with intent to murder, the hereditary haters of the English name on the Plains of Abraham, and as entailing the original sin of the dead warrior with its result of vindictive damages on the successive generations of those, who may have the misfortune of being his countrymen. If your lordship can pardon another, I may say that "Very cabinet, that has ruled England since the conquest of Canada, has, like a conclave of quakers ashamed of a temporary display of pugnacity, attempted to bury in oblivion General Wolfe's ungentlemanly violence, by not having allowed any one regiment of the conquering army to emblazon 'Quebec' on its banners.Your lordship's boon would be not a blessing but a curse even to the 'French inhabitants of this province'. They cannot always, my lord, maintain their numerical superiority; and, if they do not gradually adopt the language of their English brethren, they will virtually bear testimony against themselves, that they are the descendants of the French majority, that robbed and oppressed the English minority.—Their own lips will point them out as victims of the not very discriminating law of political letribution. Your lordship would display more both of true benevolence and of sound policy in assisting the ' French inhabitants of this province' to become Englishmen with all convenient speed.The Englishman Lord Durham in 1839Report on the Affairs of British North America/Lower CanadaI expected to find a contest between a government and a people: I found two nations warring in the bosom of a single state: I found a struggle, not of principles, but of races; and I perceived that it would be idle to attempt any amelioration of laws or institutions until we could first succeed in terminating the deadly animosity that now separates the inhabitants of Lower Canada into the hostile divisions of French and English. […]The French Canadians have attempted to shroud their hostility to the influence of English emigration, and the introduction of British institutions, under the guise of warfare against the Government and its supporters, whom they represented to be a small knot of corrupt and insolent dependents; being a majority, they have invoked the principles of popular control and democracy, and appealed with no little effect to the sympathy of liberal politicians in every quarter of the world. […] But when we look to the objects of each party, the analogy to our own politics seems to be lost, if not actually reversed; the French appear to have used their democratic arms for conservative purposes, rather than those of liberal and enlightened movement; and the sympathies of the friends of reform are naturally enlisted on the side of sound amelioration which the English minority in vain attempted to introduce into the antiquated laws of the Province. […]The institutions of France, during the period of the colonization of Canada, were, perhaps, more than those of any other European nation, calculated to repress the intelligence and freedom of the great mass of the people. These institutions followed the Canadian colonist across the Atlantic. The same central, ill-organized, unimproving and repressive despotism extended over him. Not merely was he allowed no voice in the government of his Province, or the choice of his rulers, but he was not even permitted to associate with his neighbours for the regulation of those municipal affairs, which the central authority neglected under the pretext of managing. He obtained his land on a tenure singularly calculated to promote his immediate comfort, and to check his desire to better his condition; he was placed at once in a life of constant and unvarying labour, of great material comfort, and feudal dependence. The ecclesiastical authority to which he had been accustomed established its institutions around him, and the priest continued to exercise over him his ancient influence. No general provision was made for education; and, as its necessity was not appreciated, the colonist made no attempt to repair the negligence of his government. It need not surprise us that, under such circumstances, a race of men habituated to the incessant labour of a rude and unskilled agriculture, and habitually fond of social enjoyments, congregated together in rural communities, occupying portions of the wholly unappropriated soil, sufficient to provide each family with material comforts, far beyond their ancient means, or almost their conceptions; that they made little advance beyond the first progress in comfort, which the bounty of the soil absolutely forced upon them; that under the same institutions they remained the same uninstructed, inactive, unprogressive people. Along the alluvial banks of the St. Lawrence, and its tributaries, they have cleared two or three strips of land, cultivated them in the worst method of small farming, and established a series of continuous villages, which give the country of the seignories the appearance of a never-ending street. Besides the cities which were the seats of government, no towns were established; the rude manufactures of the country were, and still are, carried on in the cottage by the family of the habitant; and an insignificant proportion of the population derived their subsistence from the scarcely discernible commerce of the Province. Whatever energy existed among the population was employed in the fur trade, and the occupations of hunting, which they and their descendants have carried beyond the Rocky Mountains, and still, in great measure, monopolize in the whole valley of the Mississippi. The mass of the community exhibited in the New World the characteristics of the peasantry of Europe. Society was dense; and even the wants and the poverty which the pressure of population occasions in the Old World, became not to be wholly unknown. They clung to ancient prejudices, ancient customs and ancient laws, not from any strong sense of their beneficial effects, but with the unreasoning tenacity of an uneducated and unprogressive people. Nor were they wanting in the virtues of a simple and industrious life, or in those which common consent attributes to the nation from which they spring. The temptations which, in other states of society, lead to offences against property, and the passions which prompt to violence, were little known among them. They are mild and kindly, frugal, industrious and honest, very sociable, cheerful and hospitable, and distinguished for a courtesy and real politeness, which pervades every class of society. The conquest has changed them but little. The higher classes, and the inhabitants of the towns, have adopted some English customs and feelings; but the continued negligence of the British Government left the mass of the people without any of the institutions which would have elevated them in freedom and civilization. It has left them without the education and without the institutions of local self-government, that would have assimilated their character and habits, in the easiest and best way, to those of the Empire of which they became a part. They remain an old and stationary society, in a new and progressive world. In all essentials they are still French; but French in every respect dissimilar to those of France in the present day. They resemble rather the French of the provinces under the old regime.I cannot pass over this subject without calling particular attention to a peculiarity in the social condition of this people, of which the important bearing on the troubles of Lower Canada has never, in my opinion, been properly estimated. The circumstances of a new and unsettled country, the operation of the French laws of inheritance, and the absence of any means of accumulation, by commerce or manufactures, have produced a remarkable equality of properties and conditions. A few seignorial families possess large, though not often very valuable properties; the class entirely dependent on wages is very small; the bulk of the population is composed of the hard-working yeomanry of the country districts, commonly called habitans, and their connexions engaged in other occupations. It is impossible to exaggerate the want of education among the habitans; no means of instruction have ever been provided for them, and they are almost universally destitute of the qualifications even of reading and writing. It came to my knowledge that out of a great number of boys and girls assembled at the schoolhouse door of St. Thomas, all but three admitted, on inquiry, that they could not read. Yet the children of this large parish attend school regularly, and actually make use of books. They hold the catechism book in their hand, as if they were reading, while they only repeat its contents, which they know by rote. The common assertion, however, that all classes of the Canadians are equally ignorant, is perfectly erroneous; for I know of no people among whom a larger provision exists for the higher kinds of elementary education, or among whom such education is really extended to a larger proportion of the population. The piety and benevolence of the early possessors of the country founded, in the seminaries that exist in different parts of the Province, institutions, of which the funds and activity have long been directed to the promotion of education. Seminaries and colleges have been, by these bodies, established in the cities, and in other central points. The education given in these establishments greatly resembles the kind given in the English public schools, though it is rather more varied. It is entirely in the hands of the Catholic clergy. The number of pupils in these establishments is estimated altogether at about a thousand; and they turn out every year, as far as I could ascertain, between two and three hundred young men thus educated. Almost all of these are members of the family of some habitant, whom the possession of greater quickness than his brothers has induced the father or the curate of the parish to select and send to the seminary. These young men possessing a degree of information immeasurably superior to that of their families, are naturally averse to what they regard as descending to the humble occupations of their parents. A few become priests; but as the military and naval professions are closed against the colonist, the greater part can only find a position suited to their notions of their own qualifications in the learned professions of advocate, notary and surgeon. As from this cause these professions are greatly overstocked, we find every village in Lower Canada filled with notaries and surgeons, with little practice to occupy their attention, and living among their own families, or at any rate among exactly the same class. Thus the persons of most education in every village belong to the same families, and the same original station in life, as the illiterate habitans whom I have described. They are connected with them by all the associations of early youth, and the ties of blood. The most perfect equality always marks their intercourse and the superior in education is separated by no barrier of manners, or pride, or distinct interests, from the singularly ignorant peasantry by which he is surrounded. He combines, therefore, the influences of superior knowledge and social equality, and wields a power over the mass, which I do not believe that the educated class of any other portion of the world possess. To this singular state of things I attribute the extraordinary influence of the Canadian demagogues. The most uninstructed population any where trusted with political power, is thus placed in the hands of a small body of instructed persons, in whom it reposes the confidence which nothing but such domestic connexion, and such community of interest could generate. Over the class of persons by whom the peasantry are thus led, the Government has not acquired, or ever laboured to acquire, influence; its members have been thrown into opposition by the system of exclusion, long prevalent in the colony; and it is by their agency that the leaders of the Assembly have been enabled hitherto to move as one mass, in whatever direction they thought proper, the simple and ductile population of the country. The entire neglect of education by the Government has thus, more than any other cause, contributed to render this people ungovernable, and to invest the agitator with the power, which he wields-against the laws and the public tranquillity. […]It was inevitable that such social feelings must end in a deadly political strife, the French regarded with jealousy the influence in politics of a daily increasing body of the strangers, whom they so much disliked and dreaded; the wealthy English were offended at finding that their property gave them no influence over their French dependents, who were acting under the guidance of leaders of their own race; and the farmers and traders of the same race were not long before they began to bear with impatience their utter political nullity in the midst of the majority of a population, whose ignorance they contemned, and whose political views and conduct seemed utterly at variance with their own notions of the principles and practice of self-government. The superior political and practical intelligence of the English cannot be, for a moment, disputed. The great mass of the Canadian population, who cannot read or write, and have found in few of the institutions of country, even the elements of political education, were obviously inferior to the English settlers, of whom a large proportion had received a considerable amount of education, and had been trained in their own country to take a part in public business of one kind or another. With respect to the more educated classes, the superiority is not so general or apparent; indeed from all the information that I could collect, I incline to think that the amount of refinement, of speculative thought, and of the knowledge that books can give, is, with some brilliant among the exceptions, to be round among the French. But I have no hesitation in stating, even more decidedly, that the circumstances in which the English have been placed in Lower Canada, acting on their original political education, have endowed the leaders of that population with much of that practical sagacity, tact, and energy in politics, in which I must say, that the bad institutions of the Colony have, in my opinion, rendered the leaders of the French deplorably deficient. That a race which felt itself thus superior in political activity and intelligence, should submit with patience to the rule of a majority which it could not respect, was impossible. […]The language, the laws and the character of the North American continent are English, and every other race than the English race is in a state of inferiority. It is in order to release them from this inferiority that I wish to give the Canadians our English character.The British Charles Dickens in 1842At eight we landed again, and travelled by a stage-coach for four hours through a pleasant and well-cultivated country, perfectly French in every respect: in the appearance of the cottages; the air, language, and dress of the peasantry; the sign-boards on the shops and taverns: and the Virgin's shrines, and crosses, by the wayside. Nearly every common labourer and boy, though he had no shoes to his feet, wore round his waist a sash of some bright colour: generally red: and the women, who were working in the fields and gardens, and doing all kinds of husbandry, wore, one and all, great flat straw hats with most capacious brims. There were Catholic Priests and Sisters of Charity in the village streets; and images of the Saviour at the corners of cross-roads, and in other public places.At noon we went on board another steamboat, and reached the village of Lachine, nine miles from Montreal, by three o'clock. There, we left the river, and went on by land.Montreal is pleasantly situated on the margin of the St. Lawrence, and is backed by some bold heights, about which there are charming rides and drives. The streets are generally narrow and irregular, as in most French towns of any age; but in the more modern parts of the city, they are wide and airy. They display a great variety of very good shops; and both in the town and suburbs there are many excellent private dwellings. The granite quays are remarkable for their beauty, solidity, and extent.There is a very large Catholic cathedral here, recently erected with two tall spires, of which one is yet unfinished. In the open space in front of this edifice, stands a solitary, grim-looking, square brick tower, which has a quaint and remarkable appearance, and which the wiseacres of the place have consequently determined to pull down immediately. The Government House is very superior to that at Kingston, and the town is full of life and bustle. In one of the suburbs is a plank road - not footpath - five or six miles long, and a famous road it is too. All the rides in the vicinity were made doubly interesting by the bursting out of spring, which is here so rapid, that it is but a day's leap from barren winter, to the blooming youth of summer.The steamboats to Quebec perform the journey in the night; that is to say, they leave Montreal at six in the evening, and arrive at Quebec at six next morning. We made this excursion during our stay in Montreal (which exceeded a fortnight), and were charmed by its interest and beauty.The impression made upon the visitor by this Gibraltar of America: its giddy heights; its citadel suspended, as it were, in the air; its picturesque steep streets and frowning gateways; and the splendid views which burst upon the eye at every turn: is at once unique and lasting.It is a place not to be forgotten or mixed up in the mind with other places, or altered for a moment in the crowd of scenes a traveller can recall. Apart from the realities of this most picturesque city, there are associations clustering about it which would make a desert rich in interest. The dangerous precipice along whose rocky front, Wolfe and his brave companions climbed to glory; the Plains of Abraham, where he received his mortal wound; the fortress so chivalrously defended by Montcalm; and his soldier's grave, dug for him while yet alive, by the bursting of a shell; are not the least among them, or among the gallant incidents of history. That is a noble Monument too, and worthy of two great nations, which perpetuates the memory of both brave generals, and on which their names are jointly written.The city is rich in public institutions and in Catholic churches and charities, but it is mainly in the prospect from the site of the Old Government House, and from the Citadel, that its surpassing beauty lies. The exquisite expanse of country, rich in field and forest, mountain-height and water, which lies stretched out before the view, with miles of Canadian villages, glancing in long white streaks, like veins along the landscape; the motley crowd of gables, roofs, and chimney tops in the old hilly town immediately at hand; the beautiful St. Lawrence sparkling and flashing in the sunlight; and the tiny ships below the rock from which you gaze, whose distant rigging looks like spiders' webs against the light, while casks and barrels on their decks dwindle into toys, and busy mariners become so many puppets; all this, framed by a sunken window in the fortress and looked at from the shadowed room within, forms one of the brightest and most enchanting pictures that the eye can rest upon.In the spring of the year, vast numbers of emigrants who have newly arrived from England or from Ireland, pass between Quebec and Montreal on their way to the backwoods and new settlements of Canada. If it be an entertaining lounge (as I very often found it) to take a morning stroll upon the quay at Montreal, and see them grouped in hundreds on the public wharfs about their chests and boxes, it is matter of deep interest to be their fellow-passenger on one of these steamboats, and mingling with the concourse, see and hear them unobserved. […]But Canada has held, and always will retain, a foremost place in my remembrance. Few Englishmen are prepared to find it what it is. Advancing quietly; old differences settling down, and being fast forgotten; public feeling and private enterprise alike in a sound and wholesome state; nothing of flush or fever in its system, but health and vigour throbbing in its steady pulse: it is full of hope and promise. To me - who had been accustomed to think of it as something left behind in the strides of advancing society, as something neglected and forgotten, slumbering and wasting in its sleep - the demand for labour and the rates of wages; the busy quays of Montreal; the vessels taking in their cargoes, and discharging them; the amount of shipping in the different ports; the commerce, roads, and public works, all made TO LAST; the respectability and character of the public journals; and the amount of rational comfort and happiness which honest industry may earn: were very great surprises. The steamboats on the lakes, in their conveniences, cleanliness, and safety; in the gentlemanly character and bearing of their captains; and in the politeness and perfect comfort of their social regulations; are unsurpassed even by the famous Scotch vessels, deservedly so much esteemed at home. The inns are usually bad; because the custom of boarding at hotels is not so general here as in the States, and the British officers, who form a large portion of the society of every town, live chiefly at the regimental messes: but in every other respect, the traveller in Canada will find as good provision for his comfort as in any place I know.The American Henry David Thoreau in 1850The number of French Canadian gentlemen and ladies among the passengers, and the sound of the French language, advertised us by this time, that we were being whirled toward some foreign vortex. […] About nine o'clock in the forenoon we reached St. Johns, an old frontier post three hundred and six miles from Boston and twenty-four from Montreal. We now discovered that we were in a foreign country, in a station-house of another nation. This building was a barn-like structure looking as if it were the work of the villagers combined, like a log-house in a new settlement. My attention was caught by the double advertisements in French and English fastened to its posts, by the formality of the English, and the covert or open reference to their queen and the British lion. […] Then there were two or three pale-faced, black-eyed, loquacious Canadian French gentlemen there, shrugging their shoulders; pitted, as if they had all had the small pox. […] The Canadians here, a rather poor looking race clad in grey homespun, which gave them the appearance of being covered with dust, were riding about in caleches and small one-horse carts called charrettes. The Yankees assumed that all the riders were racing, or at least exhibiting the paces of their horses, and saluted them accordingly. We saw but little of the village here, for nobody could tell us when the cars would start; that was kept a profound secret, perhaps for political reasons; and therefore we were tied to our seats. […]Montreal makes the impression of a larger city than you had expected to find, though you may have heard that it contains nearly sixty thousand inhabitants. In the newer parts it appeared to be growing fast like a small New York, and to be considerably Americanized. The names of the squares reminded you of Paris — the Champ de Mars, the Place d'Armes, and others, and you felt as if a French revolution might break out any moment. Glimpses of Mount Royal rising behind the town, and the names of some streets in that direction made one think of Edinburgh. That hill sets off this city wonderfully. I inquired at a principal bookstore for books published in Montreal. They said that there were none but school books, and the like, they got their books from the States. […]I was obliged to frame some sentences that sounded like French in order to deal with the market women, who, for the most part, cannot speak English. According to the guide-book the relative population of this city stands nearly thus. Two fifths are French Canadian; nearly one-fifth British Canadian; one and a half fifth English, Irish, and Scotch; somewhat less than one half fifth Germans, United States people, and others.[…] We were now fairly in the village of Beauport, though there was still but one road. The houses stood close upon this, without any front-yards, and at any angle with it, as if they had dropped down, being set with more reference to the road which the sun travels. It being about sundown and the falls not far off, we began to look round for a lodging, for we preferred to put up at a private house, that we might see more of the inhabitants. We inquired first at the most promising looking houses, if indeed any were promising. When we knocked they shouted some French word for Come in, perhaps Entrez, and we asked for a lodging in English; but we found, unexpectedly, that they spoke French only. Then we went along and tried another house, being generally saluted by a rush of two or three little curs which readily distinguished a foreigner, and which we were prepared now to hear bark in French. Our first question would be, Parlez vous Anglais? but the invariable answer was, Non Monsieur; and we soon found that the inhabitants were exclusively French Canadian, and nobody spoke English at all any more than in France; that in fact we were in a foreign country, where the inhabitants uttered not one familiar sound to us. Then we tried by turns to talk French with them, in which we succeeded sometimes pretty well, but for the most part pretty ill. Pouvez-vous nous donner un lit cette nuit? we would ask, and then they would answer with French volubility, so that we could catch only a word here and there. We could understand the women and children generally better than the men, and they us; and thus after a while we would learn that they had no more beds than they used. So we were compelled to inquire Y a-t-il une maison publique ici?—(auberge we should have said perhaps, for they seemed never to have heard of the other,) and they answered at length that there was no tavern, unless we could get lodging at the mill, le moulin, which we had passed; or they would direct us to a grocery, and almost every house had a small grocery at one end of it. We called on the public notary, or village lawyer, but he had no more beds nor English than the rest. At one house there was so good a misunderstanding at once established, through the politeness of all parties, that we were encouraged to walk in and sit down and ask for a glass of water; and having drunk their water, we thought it was as good as to have tasted their salt. When our host and his wife spoke of their poor accommodations, meaning for themselves, we assured them that they were good enough, for we thought that they were only apologizing for the poorness of the accommodations they were about to offer us, and we did not discover our mistake till they took us up a ladder into a loft and showed to our eyes what they had been laboring in vain to communicate to our brains through our ears, that they had but that one apartment with its few beds for the whole family. We made our a-dieus forthwith, and with gravity, perceiving the literal signification of that word. We were finally taken in at a sort of public-house, whose master worked for Patterson, the proprietor of the extensive saw-mills driven by a portion of the Montmorenci stolen from the fall, whose roar we now heard. We here talked or murdered French all the evening with the master of the house and his family, and probably had a more amusing time than if we had completely understood one another. At length they showed us to a bed in their best chamber, very high to get into, with a low wooden rail to it. It had no cotton sheets, but coarse home-made dark-colored linen ones. Afterward we had to do with sheets still coarser than these, and nearly the color of our blankets. There was a large open buffet crowded with crockery in one corner of the room, as if to display their wealth to travellers, and pictures of Scripture scenes, French, Italian, and Spanish, hung around. Our hostess came back directly to inquire if we would have brandy for breakfast. The next morning when I asked their names she took down the temperance pledges of herself and husband and children, which were hanging against the wall. They were Jean Baptiste Binet and his wife Geneviève Binet. Jean Baptiste is the sobriquet of the French Canadians. […]A remarkable difference between the Canadian and the New England character appears from the fact that in 1745, the French government were obliged to pass a law forbidding the farmers or censitaires building on land less than one and a half arpents front by thirty or forty deep, under a certain penalty, in order to compel emigration, and bring the seigneur's estates all under cultivation; and it is thought that they have now less reluctance to leave the paternal roof than formerly, "removing beyond the sight of the parish spire, or the sound of the parish bell." But I find that in the previous or 17th century, the complaint, often renewed, was of a totally opposite character, namely, that the inhabitants dispersed and exposed themselves to the Iroquois. Accordingly, about 1664, the king was obliged to order that "they should make no more clearings except one next to another, and that they should reduce their parishes to the form of the parishes in France as much as possible." The Canadians of those days at least, possessed a roving spirit of adventure which carried them further, in exposure to hardship and danger, than ever the New England colonist went, and led them, though not to clear and colonize the wilderness, yet to range over it as coureurs de bois, or runners of the woods, or as Hontan prefers to call them, coureurs de risques, runners of risks; to say nothing of their enterprising priesthood; and Charlevoix thinks that if the authorities had taken the right steps to prevent the youth from ranging the woods (de courir les bois) they would have had an excellent militia to fight the Indians and English. […]The very few mechanics whom we met had an old-Bettyish look, in their aprons and bonnets rouges, like fool's caps. The men wore commonly the same bonnet rouge, or red woollen, or worsted cap, or sometimes blue or gray, looking to us as if they had got up with their night-caps on, and in fact, I afterwards found that they had. Their clothes were of the cloth of the country, aetoffe du pays, gray or some other plain color. The women looked stout, with gowns that stood out stiffly, also, for the most part, apparently of some home-made stuff. We also saw some specimens of the more characteristic winter dress of the Canadian, and I have since frequently detected him in New England by his coarse gray home-spun capote and picturesque red sash, and his well furred cap, made to protect his ears against the severity of his climate. […]We knocked at the door of the curae's house here, when a sleek friar-like personage, in his sacerdotal robe appeared. To our Parlez-vous Anglais? even he answered, " Non, Monsieur;" but at last we made him understand what we wanted. It was to find the ruins of the old chateau. " Ah! oui! oui!" he exclaimed, and donning his coat, hastened forth, and conducted us to a small heap of rubbish which we had already examined. He said that fifteen years before, it was plus considaerable. Seeing at that moment three little red birds fly out of a crevice in the ruins, up into an arbor-vite tree, which grew out of them, I asked him their names, in such French as I could muster, but he neither understood me, nor ornithology; he only inquired where we had appris ga parler Francais; we told him, dans les Etats-Unis; and so we bowed him into his house again. I was surprised to find a man wearing a black coat, and with apparently no work to do, even in that part of the world.The universal salutation from the inhabitants whom we met was bon jour, at the same time touching the hat; with bon jour, and touching your hat, you may go smoothly through all Canada East. A little boy, meeting us would remark, "Bon jour, Monsieur; le chemin est mauvais:" Good morning, sir, it is bad walking. Sir Francis Head says that the emigrant is forward to "appreciate the happiness of living in a land in which the Old Country's servile custom of touching the hat does not exist," but he was thinking of Canada West, of course. It would, indeed, be a serious bore to be obliged to touch your hat several times a day. A Yankee has not leisure for it. […]At the Rivigere du Sault ga la Puce, which, I suppose, means the River of the Fall of the Flea, was advertised in English, as the sportsmen are English, "the best snipe-shooting grounds," over the door of a small public-house. These words being English affected me as if I had been absent now ten years from my country, and for so long had not heard the sound of my native language, and every one of them was as interesting to me as if I had been a snipe-shooter, and they had been snipes. […]The master of the house, in his long-pointed, red woollen cap, had a thoroughly antique physiognomy of the old Norman stamp. He might have come over with Jacques Cartier. His was the hardest French to understand of any we had heard yet, for there was a great difference between one speaker and another, and this man talked with a pipe in his mouth beside, a kind of tobacco French. I asked him what he called his dog. He shouted Braque! (the name of the breed). We liked to hear the cat called mine—mine! mine! mine! I inquired if we could cross the river here to the Isle of Orleans, thinking to return that way when we had been to the Falls. He answered, "Seil ne fait pas un trop grand vent," If there is not too much wind. They use small boats or pirogues, and the waves are often too high for them. He wore, as usual, something between a moccasin and a boot, which he called bottes Indiennes, Indian boots, and had made himself. The tops were of calf or sheep skin, and the soles of cow hide turned up like a moccasin. They were yellow or reddish, the leather never having been tanned nor colored. The women wore the same. He told us that he had travelled ten leagues due north into the bush. He had been to the Falls of St. Anne, and said that they were more beautiful, but not greater, than Montmorenci, plus beau mais non plus grand que Montmorenci. As soon as we had retired the family commenced their devotions. A little boy officiated, and for a long time we heard him muttering over his prayers. […]Yet the impression which this country made on me, was commonly different from this. To a traveller from the Old World, Canada East may appear like a new country, and its inhabitants like colonists, but to me, coming from New England, and being a very green traveller withal—notwithstanding what I have said about Hudson's Bay,—it appeared as old as Normandy itself, and realized much that I had heard of Europe and the Middle Ages. Even the names of humble Canadian villages, affected me as if they had been those of the renowned cities of antiquity. To be told by a habitan, when I asked the name of a village in sight, that it is St. Faeraeol or Ste. Anne, the Guardian Angel or the Holy Joseph's, or of a mountain, that it was Baelangae, or St. Hyacinthe! As soon as you leave the States, these saintly names begin. St. John is the first town you stop at (fortunately we did not see it), and thenceforward, the names of the mountains and streams, and villages, reel, if I may so speak, with the intoxication of poetry;—Chambly, Longueil, Pointe aux Trembles, Bartholomy, as if it needed only a little foreign accent, a few more liquids and vowels perchance in the language, to make us locate our ideals at once. I began to dream of Provence and the Troubadours, and of places and things which have no existence on the earth. They veiled the Indian and the primitive forest, and the woods toward Hudsones Bay, were only as the forests of France and Germany. I could not at once bring myself to believe that the inhabitants who pronounced daily those beautiful, and to me, significant names, lead as prosaic lives as we of New England. In short, the Canada which I saw, was not merely a place for railroads to terminate in, and for criminals to run to. […]We found a large family, hired men, wife, and children, just eating their supper. They prepared some for us afterwards. The hired men were a merry crew of short black-eyed fellows, and the wife a thin-faced, sharp-featured French Canadian woman. Our hostes English staggered us rather more than any French we had heard yet; indeed, we found that even we spoke better French than he did English, and we concluded that a less crime would be committed on the whole, if we spoke French with him, and in no respect aided or abetted his attempts to speak English. We had a long and merry chat with the family this Sunday evening in their spacious kitchen. While my companion smoked a pipe and parlez-voused with one party, I parleyed and gesticulated to another. The whole family was enlisted, and I kept a little girl writing what was otherwise unintelligible. The geography getting obscure, we called for chalk, and the greasy oiled table-cloth having been wiped,—for it needed no French, but only a sentence from the universal language of looks on my part, to indicate that it needed it,—we drew the St. Lawrence with its parishes thereon, and thenceforward went on swimmingly, by turns handling the chalk and committing to the table-cloth what would otherwise have been left in a limbo of unintelligibility. This was greatly to the entertainment of all parties. I was amused to hear how much use they made of the word oui in conversation with one another. After repeated single insertions of it one would suddenly throw back his head at the same time with his chair, and exclaim rapidly, "oui! oui! oui! oui!" like a Yankee driving pigs. Our host told us that the farms thereabouts were generally two acres, or three hundred and sixty French feet wide, by one and a half leagues (?) or a little more than four and a half of our miles deep. This use of the word acre as long measure, arises from the fact that the French acre or [[arpent], the arpent of Paris, makes a square of ten perches of eighteen feet each on a side, a Paris foot being equal to 1.06575 English feet. He said that the wood was cut off about one mile from the river. The rest was "bush," and beyond that the "Queen's bush." Old as the country is, each land-holder bounds on the primitive forest, and fuel bears no price. As I had forgotten the French for sickle, they went out in the evening to the barn and got one, and so clenched the certainty of our understanding one another. Then, wishing to learn if they used the cradle, and not knowing any French word for this instrument, I set up the knives and forks on the blade of the sickle to represent one; at which they all exclaimed that they knew and had used it. When senelles were mentioned they went out in the dark and plucked some. They were pretty good. They said that they had three kinds of plums growing wild, blue, white, and red, the two former much alike, and the best. Also they asked me if I would have des pommes, some apples, and got me some. They were exceedingly fair and glossy, and it was evident that there was no worm in them, but they were as hard almost as a stone, as if the season was too short to mellow them. We had seen no soft and yellow apples by the road-side. I declined eating one, much as I admired it, observing that it would be good dans le printemps, in the spring. In the morning when the mistress had set the eggs a frying, she nodded to a thick-set jolly-looking fellow, who rolled up his sleeves, seized the long-handled griddle, and commenced a series of revolutions and evolutions with it, ever and anon tossing its contents into the air, where they turned completely topsy-turvy and came down teother side up; and this he repeated till they were done. That appeared to be his duty when eggs were concerned. I did not chance to witness this performance, but my companion did, and he pronounced it a master-piece in its way. This manes farm, with the buildings, cost seven hundred pounds; some smaller ones, two hundred. […]Thus, while the descendants of the Pilgrims are teaching the English to make pegged boots, the descendants of the French in Canada are wearing the Indian moccasin still. The French, to their credit be it said, to a certain extent respected the Indians as a separate and independent people, and spoke of them and contrasted themselves with them as the English have never done. They not only went to war with them as allies, but they lived at home with them as neighbors. In 1627 the French king declared "that the descendants of the French, settled in" New France, "and the savages who should be brought to the knowledge of the faith, and should make profession of it, should be counted and reputed French born (Naturels Francois); and as such could emigrate to France, when it seemed good to them, and there acquire, will, inherit, without obtaining letters of naturalization." When the English had possession of Quebec, in 1630, the Indians, attempting to practise the same familiarity with them that they had with the French, were driven out of their houses with blows; which accident taught them a difference between the two races, and attached them yet more to the French. The impression made on me was, that the French Canadians were even sharing the fate of the Indians, or at least gradually disappearing in what is called the Saxon current.The English did not come to America from a mere love of adventure, nor to truck with or convert the savages, nor to hold offices under the crown, as the French to a great extent did, but to live in earnest and with freedom. The latter overran a great extent of country, selling strong water, and collecting its furs, and converting its inhabitants,—or at least baptizing its dying infants (enfans moribonds),—without improving it. First, went the coureur de bois with the eau de vie; then followed, if he did not precede, the heroic missionary with the eau de immortalitae. It was freedom to hunt, and fish, and convert, not to work, that they sought. Hontan says that the coureurs de bois lived like sailors ashore. In no part of the seventeenth century could the French be said to have had a foothold in Canada; they held only by the fur of the wild animals which they were exterminating. To enable the poor seigneurs to get their living, it was permitted by a decree passed in the reign of Louis the Fourteenth, in 1685, "to all nobles and gentlemen settled in Canada, to engage in commerce, without being called to account or reputed to have done anything derogatory." The reader can infer to what extent they had engaged in agriculture, and how their farms must have shone by this time. The New England youth, on the other hand, were never coureurs de bois nor voyageurs, but backwoodsmen and sailors rather. Of all nations the English undoubtedly have proved hitherto that they had the most business here.Yet I am not sure but I have most sympathy with that spirit of adventure which distinguished the French and Spaniards of those days, and made them especially the explorers of the American Continent,—which so early carried the former to the Great Lakes and the Mississippi on the north, and the latter to the same river on the south. It was long before our frontiers reached their settlements in the West. So far as inland discovery was concerned, the adventurous spirit of the English was that of sailors who land but for a day, and their enterprise the enterprise of traders.There was apparently a greater equality of condition among the habitans of Montmorenci County than in New England. They are an almost exclusively agricultural, and so far independent, population, each family producing nearly all the necessaries of life for itself. If the Canadian wants energy, perchance he possesses those virtues, social and others, which the Yankee lacks, in which case he cannot be regarded as a poor man. […]Why should Canada, wild and unsettled as it is, impress us as an older coutry than the States, unless because her institutions are old? All things appeared to contend there, as I have implied, with a certain rust of antiquity,—such as forms on old armor and iron guns,—the rust of conventions and formalities. It is said that the metallic roofs of Montreal and Quebec keep sound and bright for forty years in some cases. But if the rust was not on the tinned roofs and spires, it was on the inhabitants and their institutions. […] The French have occupied Canada, not udally, or by noble right, but feudally, or by ignoble right. They are a nation of peasants. […]I was much amused from first to last with the sounds made by the charrette and caleche drivers. It was that part of their foreign language that you heard the most of,—the French they talked to their horses,—and which they talked the loudest. It was a more novel sound to me than the French of conversation. The streets resounded with the cries, "Qui donc!" "March tafot!" I suspect that many of our horses which came from Canada would prick up their ears at these sounds. Of the shops, I was most attracted by those where furs and Indian works were sold, as containing articles of genuine Canadian manufacture.The Frenchman Jean-Jacques Ampère in 1853L'accent qui domine à Montréal est l'accent normand. Quelques locutions trahissent pareillement l'origine de cette population, qui, comme la population franco-canadienne en général, est surtout normande. Le bagage des voyageurs s'appelle butin, ce qui se dit également en Normandie et ailleurs, et convient particulièrement aux descendants des anciens Scandinaves. [...] On a dit à l'auteur: «Montais, m'sieu, il y a un biau chemin» et, en parlant d'un bateau: «Ne prenez pas celui-là, c'est le plus méchant» [...]. Pour retrouver vivantes dans la langue les traditions du Grand Siècle, il faut aller au Canada. L'habitant canadien ne parle pas le patois qu'on parle aujourd'hui dans les villages de Normandie.The accent that dominates in Montréal is the Norman accent. Some expression reveal furthermore the origin of this population, that, like the Franco-Canadian population in general, is mostly norman. The luggage of the travellers is called loot, which is also said in Normandy and elsewhere, and it is especially fit for the descendants of the old Scandinavians. […] Someone said to the author: «Montais, m'sieu, il y a un biau chemin» and, talking of a boat: «Ne prenez pas celui-là, c'est le plus méchant» [...]. To find in the language the living traditions of the Great Century, one must go to Canada. The Canadian inhabitant doesn’t speak the patois that is spoken in the villages of Normandy.Terence V. Powderly of the Knights of Labor, United States, end of the XIXth century(Translated in French, I had to retranslate it back to English)“are so many anarchists in Canada! […] The French are much more difficult to handle than other peoples. We also have a certain number of anarchists in the United States, but they are not of the dangerous sort. The French temperament is very different. Gather our people on all the lenght of Market street, you will have nothing to worry about. But do the same thing with an equal number of French, and the worst is to expect.”The American Carroll D. Wright, Head of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor for Massachusetts, 1881French Canadian Emigration to the United States, 1840-1930They were called "frogs", pea-soupers" or Canucks. In this case, the national antipathy was compounded by the fact that French Canadians worked for lower wages, and sometimes were used as strike-breakers. They were blamed for keeping wages low and for resisting naturalisation. The classic pronouncement on this issue was in 1881, by Carroll D. Wright, Head of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor for Massachusetts who wrote that French Canadians were "the Chinese of the Eastern States" who had no interest in the American social and political institutions. The comparison with the Chinese, when one understands the very unfavourable view that North Americans had of them at the time, greatly offended leaders of the French Canadian community. Intermarriage with people of other nationalities was not frequent, at least until the third generation.The American Mark Twain in 1881"If one may have the privilege of throwing in a personal impression or two, I may remark that my stay in Montreal and Quebec has been exceedingly pleasant, but the weather has been a good deal of a disappointment. Canada has a reputation for magnificent Winter weather, and has a prophet who is bound by every sentiment of honor and duty to furnish it; but the result this time has been a mess of characterless weather, which all right-feeling Canadians are probably ashamed of. Still, only the country is to blame; nobody has a right to blame the prophet, for this wasn't the kind of weather he promised. Well, never mind, what you lack in weather you make up in the means of grace. This is the first time I was ever in a city where you couldn't throw a brick without breaking a church window. Yet I was told that you were going to build one more. I said the scheme is good, but where are you going to find room? They said, we will build it on top of another church and use an elevator. This shows that the gift of lying is not yet dead in the land. I suppose one must come in the summer to get the advantages of the Canadian scenery. A cabman drove me two miles up a perpendicular hill in a sleigh and showed me an admirable snowstorm from the heights of Quebec. The man was an ass; I could have seen the snowstorm as well from the hotel window and saved my money. Still, I may have been the ass myself; there is no telling; the thing is all mixed in my mind; but anyway there was an ass in the party; and I do suppose that wherever a mercenary cabman and a gifted literary character are gathered together. for business, there is bound to be an ass in the combination somewhere. It has always been so in my experience; and I have usually been elected, too. But it is no matter; I would rather be an ass than a cabman, any time, except in Summer time; then, with my advantages, I could be both."I saw the Plains of Abraham, and the spot where the lamented Wolfe stood when he made the memorable remark that he would rather be the author of Cray's 'Elegy' than take Quebec. But why did he say so rash a thing? It was because he supposed there was going to be international copyright. Otherwise there would be no money in it. I was also shown the spot where Sir William Phipps stood when he said he would rather take a walk than take two Quebecs. And he took the walk. I have looked with emotion, here in your city, upon the monument which makes forever memorable the spot where Horatio Nelson did not stand when he fell. I have seen the cab which Champlain employed when he arrived overland at Quebec; I have seen the horse which Jacques Cartier rode when he discovered Montreal. I have used them both; I will never do it again. Yes, I have seen all the historical places; the localities have been pointed out to me where the scenery is warehoused for the season. My sojourn has been to my moral and intellectual profit; I have behaved with propriety and discretion; I have meddled nowhere but in the election. But I am used to voting, for I live in a town where, if you may judge by local prints, there are only two conspicuous industries - committing burglaries and holding elections - and I like to keep my hand in, so I voted a good deal here."Where so many of the guests are French, the propriety will be recognized of my making a portion of my speech in the beautiful language in order that I may be perfectly understood. I speak French with timidity, and not flowingly - except when excited. When using that language I have often noticed that I have hardly ever been mistaken for a Frenchman, except, perhaps, by horses; never, I believe, by people I had. I hoped that mere French construction - with English words - would answer, but this is not the case. I tried it at a gentleman's house in Quebec, and it would not work. The maid servant asked, "What would Monsieur?" I said, "Monsieur So-and So, is he with himself?" She did not understand that either I said. I said, "He will desolate himself when he learns that his friend American was arrived, and he not with himself to shake him at the hand." She did not even understand that; I don't know why, but she didn't and she lost her temper besides. Somebody in the rear called out, "Qui est donc la?" or words to that effect. She said, "C'est un fou," and shut the door on me. Perhaps she was right; but how did she ever find that out? for she had never seen me before till that moment. But, as I have already intimated, I will close this oration with a few sentiments in the French language I have not ornamented them, I have not burdened them with flowers or rhetoric, for, to my mind, that literature is best and most enduring which is characterized by a noble simplicity: J'ai belle bouton d'or de mon oncle, maisje n'ai pas celui du charpentier. Si vous avez le fromage du brave menuisier, c'est bon mais si vous ne l'avez pas, ne se desole pas, prenez le chapeau de drap noir de son beau frere malade Tout a l'heurel Savoir faire! Qu'est ce gue vous dit! Pate de fois gras! Revenons a nos moutons! Pardon, messieurs, pardonnez moi; essayant a parler la belle langue d'Ollendorf strains me more than you can possibly imagine. But I mean well, and I've done the best I could." [Loud and continued laughter and applause.]The American professor MacDonald in The Nation, October 15, 1896As a class, the New England French are treated considerately in public because of their votes, disparaged in private because of general dislike, and sought by all for the work they do and the money they spend.The Austrian Stefan Zweig in 1911The text in German and in French translation : Bei den Franzosen in Canada(Translated from the French translation of Véronica Dylle)Philadelphia, in march.In Boston, the winter evening was grey. In these american industrial cities, one does not notice the passing of the day; the thick cloud of smoke and steams, that thousands of chimneys and ships endlessly supply, is always more dense, always more blurry, always more oppressing. […]Outside of this stifling city, let’s go to the north! The train moves forward quickly and the grey days passed in these boiling cities turn your limbs into leaden, to make you dive into a deep sleep, heavy and restorative. […]In the railway stations, we catch sight of the first Canadians: fresh faces, tanned, high statures in multicolored shirts or bushy furs. We hear for the first time the singular French of these people. Pulled by small horses, some sledges, almost like those of Russia, with the tinkling chimes are passing under our eyes. […]Finally Québec city, the old capital of New France. To get there, one must cross the Saint Lawrence river from Lévis. Magnificent spectacle to see this immense flozen river, that has becomed an immense ice block, from a shore to the other. […]On the other shore, Québec city waits. I know nothing more moving in our current understanding of the world than these lonely linguistic islets that, after having maintained themselves trough the centuries, are silently crumbling, run to their ruin, rebelling, but without hope. All this germanity in America is an island in deliquescence, but its decline is, under the eyes, less tragic, less manifest that the one that knew other French possessions. From India, that Dupleix formerly conquered, the French only kept Pondichéry - another of these small loyal and moving cities -, of Canada, that was French under three kings, nothing else excepted these few cities that keep bravely defending themselves against the English tidal wave. Two hundreds, three hundreds soldiers sent from France could have saved India and Canada against the English : there, like here, these last French, the descendants of heroes that Cooper or Thackeray celebrated in their novels, sadly repeat it to themselves. Champlain and Dupleix, these two historical figures from France - to which only the durable success of their exploits went missing - are the true spiritual inheritors of Napoléon. Without these valiant adventurers, one would not be able to understand it (like one cannot explain Shakespeare without the playwrights of the pre-elizabetan period). Both have forgotten graves, and one must browse rare books or go to faraway countries to understand the scope of their exploits.Québec city, that was formerly the most important city of America, the place from which France extended its domination on the American states up to the Great lakes, - she who, formerly overflew from quixotic adventures and indians - seems today like a gentle French provincial village. Straight away, we forget we are in America. The people here do not have this irritating haste; they are polite and delighted when a foreigner speaks to them in French. For the first time in weeks, I heared genuine laughers, frank and nonchalant and I percieved, in the narrow alleys, a deep sentiment of well-being.Afar, in the bottom of the port, we see in the streets the posters and advertisement signs in English hanged on the buildings made of cheap American bricks (one did not embed an ounce of good taste): people pass in front of it without taking notice. we exclusively hear French spoken in the streets, but also in the countryside, far towards the east.How can we not be admirative in front of this remarquable tenacity that desmonstrated these few thousands of French for roughly one hundred and fifty years to defend their language? Six millions of Germans, if not more, were absorbed in America, without leaving a single trace. They did not ensure the survival of their language in a single city, in a single province. And there, these few thousands of French, without the help of the motherland, without help from anybody, preserved their language and their customs. Here is a most singular tour de force, almost without any other in modern history, for a so-called decadent race.A stroll trough the city gives some explanations. From the right to the left, we see nuns and priests. In reality, it’s them who ensured the resistance. Finally, nothing protected better the latin races - the French in Canada just like the weak and corrupted Spanish states of Central America - from assimilation to English than the defensive attitude of catholicism that would always see in the English the heretical and the hereditary enemy. Meanwhile the German protestantism would merge quickly into the Free American Church, that most of the pastors would preach soon in english rather than in German, the priests, on their side, taught catholicism to the children in French in their schools. Omnia instaurare in Christo [order everything according to the spirit of Jesus], so is the motto of the French newspapers here (that, incidentally, kept their national identity meanwhile the German press apes the journalistic style of the American newspapers). The intransigence of catholicism, like the great number of children of the Canadian French - a phenomenon constantly quoted as an example in France, without ever being equaled - erected in this country a rempart, a monument to the glory of a national fervor without precedent in our time.It is true this heroic struggle against an infinite supremacy all around them seems to be ending. The French already lost Montréal due to the speed to which a foreign population came to settle there. This city, that in the latest decades became gigantic due to development, also became the converging point of a growing European invasion year after year. However, the internationality of these masses require a common language, a lingua franca, that is necessarily English. Any reasonable being would be tempted to advise to the French from here to abandon their resistance (more than ever in danger, they redouble their obstinacy), but the unreasonable here is so marvelously heroic that we only have one desire: to encourage all these descendants of adventurers to stay valiant.The now share after one hundred and fifty years, the fate of the Indians that they were the first to expell from their houses, to push them away from their sacred forests to the plains until they were crushed, diluted in the foreign nations, assimilated and divided up.Now, tasting their own medecine, they see themselves stripped of a French culture (certainly superior) to fall into the American orbit. To save them from oblivion, it would need a poet that, like did Cooper with The Last of the Mohicans, would tell the future generations the tale of this painful transition, the secret heroism of this ultimate setback. Their destiny would have been nothing but an episode. With them ends a chapter of History; a new one will start, bearing, this time, the power of this gigantic Canadian state and to which the upcoming decades will reveal the undergoing history.The Shawinigan Water and Power company in 1930The American H. P. Lovecraft in 1932–1933Field Notes from a Fulbright Scholar: H.P. Lovecraft’s QuébecLovecraft’s three visits to Québec City actually inspired his longest published work, “A Description of the Town of Quebeck in New France, Lately Added to His Britannick Majesty’s Dominions.” It’s a 130 page travel essay about a city overflowing with “the beauty inherent in all ancient and wonder-making things.” In short, this essay is as weird as Lovecraft himself.The first half is an amateur history of New France, narrated in a bombastic style that unabashedly flings out baseless Anglo-Saxon value judgments. For example, Lovecraft repeatedly condemns the province as “priest ridden,” and when describing the exploits of Samuel de Champlain, he remarks “’tis a pity he could not have been an Englishman and a Protestant.” Still, despite these laughable barbs, the underlying tone of Lovecraft’s work is swooning, a fact that grows obvious in the second half of the essay: a guidebook for Americans visiting Québec.In hyperventilating prose, Lovecraft’s guide describes every block of the city in fastidious detail—every cottage, every row house, every terrace, every silver church spire, every “dog drawn cart used to deliver milk.” (Uh… yeah. Dog drawn carts.). Lovecraft’s description is nearly photographic and his obsession with the visual is only underscored by the fact that he constantly recommends certain neighborhoods purely for their “vistas.” Lovecraft extols one such vista in the lower town for being particularly spooky, a crumbling neighborhood overshadowed by Québec’s Citadel, creating a “malign and terrifying aspect” that leads Lovecraft to believe it must be haunted by the ghosts of fallen soldiers.Reading all this is fun for a while. I can get down with petticoats and stone fortifications more than most. Still, by the end, even I felt exhausted. After Lovecraft’s lengthy “General Orientation Tour,” he then describes 12 more “Pedestrian Expeditions” in similarly exhaustive detail. It all starts to feel like a Lonely Planet where the writer intends to take every step of the way with you, forcing you to ruminate on the provenance of every brick in the city.Yet Lovecraft’s obsession with antiquity runs even deeper than this. Not only was he obsessed with witnessing old places, he wanted to literally return to the past. As he writes in many of his letters, Lovecraft felt an intense displacement in the contemporary worldThe American Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1942When I was a boy in the «nineties», I used to see many deal French Canadians who had rather recently come into the New Bedford area, near the old Delano place, at Fair Haven. They seemed very much out of place in what was still an old New England community. They segregated themselves in the mill towns and had little to do with their neighbours. I can still remember that the old generation shook their heads and used to say, «this is a new element which will never be assimilated. We are assimilating the Irish but these Quebec people won't even speak English. Their bodies are here, but their hearts and minds are in Quebec».Today, forty or fifty years later, the French-Canadian elements in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are at last becoming a part of the American melting pot. They no longer vote as their churches and their societies tell them to. They are inter-marrying with the original Anglo Saxon stock; they are good, peaceful citizens, and most of them are speaking English in their homes.All of this leads me to wonder whether, by some sort of planning, Canada and the United States, working toward the same end, cannot do some planning - perhaps unwritten planning which would not even be a public policy - by which we can hasten the objective of assimilating the New England French Canadians and Canada's French Canadians into the whole of our respective bodies politic. There are of course, many methods of doing this, which depend on local circumstances. Wider opportunities can perhaps be given to them in other parts of Canada and the U.S.; and at the same time, certain opportunities can probably be given to non French Canadian stock to mingle more greatly with them in their own centers.In other words, after nearly two hundred years with you and after seventy-five years with us, there would seem to be no good reason for great differentials between the French population elements and the rest of the racial stocks.http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2016/06/10/history-space-winooski-ptit-canada/85671566/The Franco-Algerian Albert Camus in 1946« Il me semble que j'aurais quelque chose à dire sur Québec et sur ce passé d'hommes venus lutter dans la solitude, poussés par une force qui les dépassait. Mais à quoi bon? Il y a maintenant des quantités de choses dont je sais que je les réussirais artistiquement parlant. Mais ce mot n'a plus de sens pour moi. La seule chose que je voudrais dire j'en ai été incapable jusqu'ici et je ne le dirai sans doute jamais. »It seems to me I would have something to say about Québec city and this past of men that came to struggle in solitude, driven by a force that overwhelmed them. But to what end? There are now many things of which I know I would success artistically speaking. But this word has no meaning for me. The only thing I would like to say is that I was incapable of it so far and I will likely never say it.French president Charles de Gaulle in 1967« Que le Québec soit libre, c'est, en effet, ce dont il s'agit. Cela aboutira forcément, à mon avis, à l'avènement du Québec au rang d'un Etat souverain, maître de son existence nationale, comme le sont par le monde tant et tant d'autres peuples, tant et tant d'autres Etats, qui ne sont pas pourtant si valables, ni même si peuplés, que ne le serait celui là. »“That Québec be free is, indeed, what this is about. This will necessarly lead to, in my opinion, to the advent of Québec to the rank of a sovereign State, master of its national existence, like are so many other peoples in the world, so many other States, that are yet not as valuable, not even as populated, that would be this one.”Dusko Doder of the Washington Post in 1980The cleavage has existed ever since the British took over Quebec City in 1759 and New France was formally ceded to the British crown by the 1763 Treaty of Paris. A French life in Quebec, Alexis de Tocqueville observed in the 1830s, was the life of a "conquered race." Quebec's standard of living has always been lower, unemployment rate higher, wages much lower than in English-speaking Canada.On three occasions in the past 100 years men from Quebec became players on the national stage, including the current prime minister, Pierre Trudeau. But most French Quebecers lived a life of their own, representing a stymied French civilization in miniature and abandoning downtown Montreal to the English, who monopolized the wealth, trade, technology and political power. A number of Quebecers recall that their wives, if they spoke only French, never went shopping at the fancy Montreal shops until 1977 for fear of suffering indignities at the hands of English-speaking sales clerks.Oui ou Non pour Quebec? The Heart vs. the MindThe French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009« Le Québec, c'est ma famille, et le Canada, ce sont mes amis* […] Et croyez-vous mes chers amis, que le monde, dans la crise sans précédent qu'il traverse, a besoin de division? A besoin de détestation? Et est-ce que pour prouver qu'on aime les autres, on a besoin de détester leurs voisins?... Je crois qu'ils n'ont pas compris, dans le message de la Francophonie et dans les valeurs universelles que nous portons, au Québec comme en France, le refus du sectarisme. Le refus de la division. Le refus de l'enfermement sur soi-même. Le refus de cette obligation de définir son identité par opposition féroce à l'autre. Alors que si notre identité est forte, on n'a pas besoin d'être agressif. »Québec is my family, and Canada is my friend.* […] And do you believe, dear friends, that the world, in the last crisis without precedent it is going trough, needs division? Needs hatred? And in order to prove we like the others, do we need to hate their neighbours?… I think they did not understand, in the message of the Francophonie and the universal values that we bear, in Québec like in France, the refusal of sectarism. The refusal of division. The refusal of being inward-looking. The refusal of this obligation to define one’s identity by the ferocious opposition to the other. Meanwhile if one’s identity is strong, one does not need to be aggressive.*In French, a common saying is « on ne choisit pas sa famille, mais on choisit ses amis » (one does not choose one’s family, but one chooses one’s friends). Quebecers viewed it as an insult.The Canadian Michael Ignatieff in 2012“we’re almost two separate countries.[…] The emotional bonds that once existed between French and English Canada are all but gone. […] We don’t have anything to say to each other any more, […] There’s a kind of contract of mutual indifference, which is very striking for someone of my generation. […] It’s a kind of way station. You stop there for a while, but I think the logic eventually is independence — full independence, […] I think eventually that’s where it goes.”(That doesn’t mean he supports independence at all, it just means the gap is wide and the lack of mutual interest strong.)He explained later :"Since I passionately want Quebec to remain part of the Canadian fabric, and since these friends have defended this idea with courage and pride, it causes me pain to think that anything I said could be used against a cause—the national unity of my country—that they and I hold dear," Ignatieff wrote.The former Liberal party leader went on to say he would "never betray the cause that we share."The Haitian-Quebecer Dany Laferrière in 2014« C'est impossible pour un Haïtien de ne pas comprendre une chose aussi naturelle que l'indépendance d'un pays. Haïti ne possède rien, sauf l'indépendance. Le Québec a tout, sauf l'indépendance. »“It’s impossible for an Haitian to not understand a thing as natural as the independence of a country. Haiti possesses nothing but independence. Québec has everything, but independence.The Canadian J.J. McCullough in 2017Opinion | Why does ‘progressive’ Quebec have so many massacres?French-speaking Quebec is often held up (and certainly holds itself up) as Canada’s most essential region, home to a precious set of particularities that help make Canada the marvelous place it is. On such issues as postsecondary education, child care and (ironically enough) gun control, progressive Canadians laud its social-democratic policies as moral exemplars, and the province has played an outsize role in pushing Canadian politics to the left.Criticism of Quebec, meanwhile, is deeply taboo. In a 2006 essay, Globe and Mail columnist Jan Wong posited a theory that Quebec’s various lone nuts, many of whom were not of pure French-Canadian stock, were predictably alienated from a province that places such a high premium on cultural conformity. She was denounced by a unanimous vote in the Canadian Parliament and sank into a career-ruining depression. The current events magazine Maclean’s ran a cover story in 2010 arguing that Quebec, where old-fashioned mafia collusion between government contractors, unions and politicians is still common, was easily “the most corrupt province in Canada.” That, too, was denounced by a unanimous vote of Parliament.Privately, English Canadians are far less defensive. They grumble about Quebec’s dark history of anti-Semitism, religious bigotry and pro-fascist sentiment, facts which are rarely included in otherwise self-flagellating official narratives of Canadian history. They complain about the exaggerated deference the province gets from Ottawa as a “distinct society” and “nation-within-a-nation,” and its various French-supremacist language and assimilation laws, which they blame for creating a place that’s inhospitable, arrogant and, yes, noticeably more racist than the Canadian norm. And now, they have good reason to observe that the province seems to produce an awful lot of lunatics prone to public massacres, who often explicitly justify their violence with arguments of dissatisfaction towards Quebec’s unique culture.Hummm… it looks just like Adam Thom complaining to the English governor the government isn’t bullying enough these damned morally inferior French… or maybe Lord Durham, saying this nation is not "progressive" enough because it doesn’t accept to assimilate and fall into oblivion.Besides what he says about racism is funny because the data suggest the opposite :

Hi there. Thank you for your question. I'm 20-year-old from a medium-class family in Kuala Lumpur (the capital of Malaysia). That makes me a gen Y/millennial city girl. It's important that I highlight to you my background because socio-economics in this case definitely contributes to what I'm going to say. Yes, Malaysia's GDP has been performing good. However, most Malaysians would want to change the government for the following reasons: (if you're in a rush, scroll down the the bottom and read the summary)1. CORRUPTIONEver since our independence from the British colonisation, our government has always been the SAME political coalition (Barisan Nasional) for 59 years. Being in power for so long could mean two things: a) the government would have sufficient time to implement beneficial development plans and succeed or b) the government would get "lazier" in terms of serving the people and could do many things behind the scenes without public knowledge aka sweep things under the mat (lack of transparency basically because they've been in power for way too long). Unfortunately, it is the latter that's happening right now in Malaysia. Among recent scandals are 1. 1MDB that's affiliated with the current prime minister, Najib Razak and 2. current deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his affliation with a firm (owned by Zahid's brother) to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi labour. Do research on this on your own because there is many more corruption cases that I couldn't possibly cover. This "culture" started when our fourth prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Dr M) took over the office. Although he may be the Father of Modernization of Malaysia, there were many controversial issues and decisions made by him, this includes the removal of then-finance minister, Anwar Ibrahim (who's currently serving his second time in jail for accused sodomy - hugely politically motivated sentence) and made himself (Dr M) the finance minister. Having the same man as prime minister (who makes MAJOR decisions of the country) and finance minister (who makes FINANCIAL decisions of the country) gives a single individual way too much power and this is called dictatorship, which brings me to my next point.2. DETERIORATION OF DEMOCRACYBased on the Constitution, Malaysia adopts a federal parliamentary democracy system - there should be INDEPENDENT judiciaries and FAIR elections. To be frank, there isn't any of these in Malaysia and it's only getting worse. Leaders and politicians of the opposition parties are being arrested under the Sedition Act. Recently, Najib Razak has implemented the National Security Council Bill 2015 which would only give the government greater power. How much power exactly? Take a look at the information below I got from Wikipedia and think how it could easily be abused:Clause 18 (1): PM has full discretion to decide where 'security area' isClause 18 (3) and (4): Initial declaration of ‘security area’ lasts for 6 months but may be renewed by PM indefinitelyClause 22–30: security forces can arrest without warrant; stop and search; enter and search premise; take possession of any land, building or movable property.Clause 37: All NSC’s affairs are done is absolute secrecyClause 38: No action or lawsuit can be brought against the NSCElections in Malaysia has been controversial due to lack of independent judiciary and transparency, phantom voters and issuance of Malaysian citizenship to foreign labour from Bangladesh (to get them to vote for BN. Just in case anyone misses my point, I'm not being xenophobic here) - sounds familiar? (hint: DPM Zahid) This unhealthy democracy state has led to the formation of Bersih (which means clean in Malay), a coalition of NGOs demanding clean and fair elections. Bersih has organised 4 rallies so far and this has sparked global movements in major foreign cities by Malaysians overseas. To combat Bersih, government officials have shown explicit support to the Red Shirt rally - intensifying relationships between race and religion, which brings me to points number 3 and 4.3. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUESA) RACEMalaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-racial country due to immigration before the formation of Malaysia. According to the information from CIA, as of 2010, the proportions of races are Malay 50.1%, Chinese 22.6%, indigenous 11.8%, Indian 6.7%, other 0.7%, non-citizens 8.2%. When the Constitution was being written, there were quite a few pro-bumiputeras (bumiputeras refers to Malays and indegenous people) policies for bumiputeras to "catch-up" due to the large difference between social class with other races. This policies gave bumiputeras major advantages in terms of housing, business opportunities and education etc. Was this the right move? This is quite a sensitive and controversial topic. Do read up on Lee Kuan Yew and expulsion/exit of Singapore (expulsion-exit debate is still ongoing) from Malaysia and make your own conclusion. In my opinion, I think it did more harm than good.[Before I explain my reasoning, I just want to highlight that I am Malaysian Chinese. My great grandparents came to Malaya (before the formation of Malaysia), so my grandparents, parents and my generation in the family were born here. I don't actively go to people and highlight to them that I'm Malaysian CHINESE, I just go by Malaysian because I pretty much grew up and spent my entire life (so far) in Malaysia (most non-bumis Chinese, Indians etc would agree with me). Neither I am trying to draw a clear line between myself and China and forget my roots. I went to a chinese-medium primary school, I do (and still) speak Mandarin and I do (and still) celebrate Chinese New Year and other Chinese festivals.]Anyway, back to pro-bumi policies. I do think there is a socio-economic gap that needs to be improved, which pro-bumi policies can make up for. However, it did not have a time frame of "bumi privileges", leaving non-bumis severely at disadvantage (for example: Chinese-owned companies are being shut down/taken over by bumi companies due to unfair pro-bumi rules, import/export pro-bumi policies, taxes and benefits, most importantly, EDUCATION and SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES* see below). In the long run, these policies GENERALLYi. influence work ethics as bumis are "lazier" as life is given to them on a silver platter and non-bumis relatively more "hard-working" as they need to make up for the privilege that they did not have. This is of course a generalization as there are definitely hardworking bumis and lazy non-bumis. However, it's this sort of generalization and stereotypes that intensifies racial tension.ii. develops a "hierachy" and inferiority mindset in bumis. Such examples are the officials-endorsed red shirt rally as mentioned before, who threatened a Chinese blood bath if Malaysian Chinese attended the Bersih rally; politicians, tertiary educators influencing uneducated bumis by playing the race card, telling off Malaysian Chinese to "go back to China" if we're unhappy about current policies and prime minister Najib Razak referred to the lack of Chinese votes in the 13th general elections as a "Chinese tsunami".These pro-bumis may benefit bumis as compared to non-bumis, however it is heavily skewed. Indegenous people (not all) in East Malaysia (even after almost 6 decades ruling of the same party) do not have access to basic needs such as electricity, clean water and proper road system (they literally have to take the boat to cross the river in order to get to school). Without proper roads, getting to school takes hours and students lose motivation to obtain education and drop out of school. With lesser educated people being influence by politicians who play by race cards and their heavy influence and censorship of media the bumis are exposed to, it's only a viscious cycle that bumis continue voting for the current government, thinking BN is the only party that "truly cares about their welfare". This was why I highlighted earlier that I was a millenial from the city as this was the main difference between urban and rural Malaysians. Urban Malaysians tend to be more globally aware (although it's not always the case).*EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Race-based quotas are implemented in public universities. Basically, your application is considered by rase, not competency. There were many cases of Malaysian Chinese students who scored CGPA 4.0 and are being rejected from public universities. Appeals have also been unsuccessful. As for scholarships, MARA (please look this up) specifically offer scholarships locally and abroad based on race and not competency. (Recently MARA even offers 50% discounts on loans for students who failed their exams, yay for our tax money!) The only government scholarship available for non-bumis is the Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship. This is the only government scholarship based on results and capabilities, as the requirement for this sponsorship is 9A* in GCSE-equivalent local public exam. Also, note that MARA sponsors bumi students to any universities anywhere in the world while JPA ONLY sponsors a non-bumi students to its list consisting of ONLY TOP universities (Ivy Leagues, Russell Groups universities and a few other world class universities - although JPA scholarships to universities abroad are now cancelled due to "lack of funds" while they're still capable of providing funds to MARA to offer 50% loans to failing students). Non-bumis would practically have to work their asses off while bumis would have a much easier route in terms of education (a generalization). However there are definitely bumiputeras that are extremely hard-working and managed to get JPA scholarship. I wrote this section separately because this topic is extremely close to heart, as I am one of the few lucky non-bumi students who worked extremely hard to obtain a scholarship to study in England at the moment. This is also the reason that I'm writing this reply anonymously as my scholarship would likely be revoked if they saw my post.B) RELIGION**From the CIA website, as of 2010, the proportions of religions are Muslim (official) 61.3%, Buddhist 19.8%, Christian 9.2%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 1.3%, other 0.4%, none 0.8%, unspecified 1%. Politicians and "religion scholars" also like to play the religion card by stirring up halal issues - shopping areas, trolleys, elevators - again, look this up on your own time (surprisingly no issues with non-halal money or blood/organ donation YET), setting up JAKIM (department of Islamic development of Malaysia) with RM1billion (~USD 250mil) budget allocation for religion officers to implement Islamic laws and motel raids, claiming child marriage could curb pre-marital sex, forcing churches to take down the cross and many more. They are basically radicalising Muslims in Malaysia, hence threatening the freedom to practice other religions (which was also stated in the Constitution).**I also want to highlight that not all Muslims are radical in Malaysia. This is just a generalization. Most of the educated Muslims Malays are quite liberal.Extras issues which I couldn't classify: implementation of GST (goods and services tax), rising living costs, politicians who act like thugs (showing support for red shirt rally and our Tourism minister - Nazri told off the Johor prince to stay out of politics (when he voiced out about the current political issues) or prepare to get "whacked").TL;DR: Good GDP doesn't mean good economy for the country and the people, it's just filling up the politicians' pockets. Few other reasons to change the current government is due to corruption, threatened democracy, politicians stirring up race and religion issues to distract uneducated people from the real issues. I know this was a long article to read (and I'm not a very good writer), so if you're still reading, thanks for sticking to the end. My apologies if I offended anyone.