Sir George Etienne Cartier: His Work for Canada and His Services to Montreal — John Shaqi
Sir George Etienne Cartier: His Work for Canada and His Services to MontrealBoyd, John
History
Sir George Etienne Cartier: His Work for Canada and His Services to Montreal
Boyd, John
Canada -- Politics and government -- 19th century; Cartier, George-Etienne, Sir, 1814-1873; Politicians -- Canada -- Biography
A French-Canadian and proud of his origin, a Roman Catholic and true
to his faith, strong in his convictions, Cartier at the same time was
a man of generous sympathies, of broad views, and great tolerance. His
charity was broad enough to include men of all races, languages, and
creeds. "My policy, and I think it best," he said on one occasion,
"is respect for the rights of all." Actuated by that spirit he stood
firmly on all occasions where there was justification for the rights
of minorities, whether French or English, Catholic or Protestant. At
the time of Confederation, for instance, some fear was expressed that
the interests of the Protestant minority of Quebec would be jeopardized
under the new constitution. Cartier pledged his word that nothing of
the kind would happen. "I have already had occasion to proclaim in
Parliament," he said, addressing the citizens of Montreal, "that the
Protestant minority of Lower Canada have nothing to fear from the
Provincial Legislature under Confederation. My word is given, and I
repeat that nothing will be done of a nature to injure the principles
and the rights of that minority."
Cartier's pledge, it is needless to say, has been sacredly kept.
On the same occasion, Cartier showed his largeness of views by
declaring: "You know that I am a Catholic. I love my religion,
believing it the best, but whilst proudly declaring myself a Catholic,
I believe it my duty as a public man to respect the sincerity and the
religious convictions of others. I am also a French-Canadian. I love my
race. I of course have for it a predilection which is assuredly only
natural, but as a public man and as a citizen, I also love others."
Such were Cartier's guiding principles throughout life.
Cartier, like all other human beings, had his faults, as well as
his virtues, his public career was not without its mistakes, but
nobody ever questioned his ardent love for his country, his absolute
sincerity, his high sense of honor, his personal honesty and integrity,
his fearless energy, and the firmness with which he always stood for
his convictions. His motto "_Franc Et Sans Dol_"--"Frank And Without
Deceit," well describes the character of the man.
Did time permit, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, a great deal more
might be said of Cartier and his works. But has not sufficient been
said to justify the contention that Cartier was a great Canadian, a
nation-builder in the truest sense of that term, one whose memory
is entitled to lasting honor from all Canadians? Does not the
summary record of his career, which has been given, amply justify
the declaration of the great Lord Dufferin that Cartier's name must
forever be indissolubly incorporated with the most eventful and most
glorious epoch of his country's history, commencing as it did with his
entrance into political life and culminating in that consolidation of
the Provinces to which his genius, courage and ability so materially
contributed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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