Considerable sensation has been produced in Canada by the publication
of an article in La Patrie—a paper believed to re- present the opinions of M. Laurier, the leader of the Opposi- tion in the Dominion Parliament—declaring in favour of breaking up the Canadian Confederation. It concludes by appealing to the Ontario Liberals to join in its efforts to tear up the Constitution "given to Canada by the British Parlia- ment, for which we French-Canadians long ago openly proclaimed our hatred." In all probability, this is only tall- talk, but at the same time it is impossible not to notice the growing uneasiness and discontent of the French-Canadians, who, though not hostile to the English connection, seem more and more disposed to dislike their Anglo-Saxon fellow- citizens, and hence to desire the practical independence of a separate Colony. They would be wise, however, to remember that though England will not fight to prevent the Dominion declaring itself independent, should that be the deliberate will of its inhabitants, she will never allow one province, contrary to the wishes of the rest, to break up the Union that now binds together British North America.
