Rain At Night (verse)
Callaghan, Gertrude
524 THE COMMONWEAL October 6, 1926 servatives : first, failure of Mr. Meighen to form a and Quebec...
...It will be an adminwas the hostility of French Canada toward Conserva- istration of moderate tendencies, making certain tariff tive party leaders...
...Meighen's lieutenants...
...Last year, with business de- have but to vote with fair solidarity, and as long as pressed, and an exodus of Canadians across the line, the voters of the rest of Canada divide over economic the argument for more protection was potent...
...scandal, coupled with an extraordinary ineptitude by Mr...
...King it, has done for the Liberal party in Quebec what the himself is a Liberal of the Gladstonian tradition...
...second, an overplaying of the customs vote...
...sions, that Mr...
...cline in the Conservative vote in Ontario, with the In Canada, the Conservative party, like the Repub- loss of a number of constituencies...
...Conservative candidates returned...
...made frequent pilgrimages to Quebec centres...
...King has taken office as Prime it is the most salient fact in Canadian politics today- Minister, with a new ministry...
...dered by war, had seared more deeply than imagined...
...The Orangemen of Ontario, almost wholly seemingly ineffaceable suspicion, cradled in war pas- Conservative, did not like his advances to Quebec...
...sent his son to the historic French Catholic University of Night, in a frolic, Laval...
...who are giving the matter much thought...
...fourth, the Liberal budget of last session, did not relish his decision not to take an Orangeman which substantially reduced taxation...
...lican party in the United States, stresses high protec- What the outcome of such a result will be, only tion...
...524 THE COMMONWEAL October 6, 1926 servatives : first, failure of Mr...
...and they Orangemen...
...GERTRUDE CALLAGHAN...
...and he was willing to make large concessions Her silly old feet to avoid such a development...
...Out of 245 federal mood, he can afford to make enough concessions to seats, there are 8o in which the French vote either the West to keep him in office for a full term of Parholds complete control, or, if cast solidly on one side, is liament...
...They tion when in power...
...A Presbyterian of Scotch-Irish descent, but Rain is a pauper with a profound respect for Catholicism, and a quite Shabby and old, sincere affection for the French-Canadian people, there Huddling her shoulders, was nothing that he did not do to win French-Canadian Trembling with cold...
...Meighen stepped beyond the danger point in English-speaking Canada to wipe out this Quebec sus- `lain at Night picion...
...The acts Dance in abandon and language of 1917, the folly that is always engen- Down the wet street...
...There are many Quebec leaders high tariff policy lost its force...
...He Civil War did for the Democratic party in the South...
...The Liberals, on the other hand, preach low time can disclose...
...But the dominant fact in the Conservative defeat- Meanwhile, Mr...
...When the shades fall, and laid it down as a part of Conservative policy that Lends her a misty, henceforth Canada should take no part in foreign wars Silver-grey shawl...
...confidence...
...third, Quebec's provinces...
...loves well-rounded phrases about the larger liberty, It created a memory and a suspicion that have welded and many of his messages and addresses are remiFrench Canadians into a solid bloc of antagonism to niscent of Woodrow Wilson...
...Meighen, indeed, fell heavily between two some of Mr...
...the nation on racial and, to some extent, on religious grounds, preventing proper consideration of economic Pit-a-pat-pat, issues...
...but with issues, they can easily secure enough allies to keep the returning prosperity, promoted by abundant crops and reins of government...
...He realized, as most thoughtful students Jewels bedeck her Down to her hem, of Canadian affairs realize, that a French Canada vot- Each corner arc light ing always for one party must inevitably tend to divide Pins on a gem...
...The truth is, that military conscrip- concessions to the West, and yet always bearing in tion in Canada in 1917, plus the language by which a mind that Quebec, whence comes its chief strength, is part of English-speaking Canada sought to promote at heart conservative and protectionist...
...without the sanction of a general election...
...There will be no more elections held in a decisive factor, and in only two of these seats were Canada for some years to come...
...And he was sincere...
...French Canadians, if they desire tariff when in opposition, and practise moderate protec- it, can control the political destinies of Canada...
...Meighen to form a and Quebec rejected Meighen by an overwhelming strong cabinet...
...He mastered the French language...
...But he is a skilful polithe Conservative party, impelling them to vote re- tician, willing to compromise his principles for office, gardless of economic or other issues, and without re- and just so long as Quebec remains in her present gard to material consequences...
...fifth, the unde- into his cabinet...
...Whether such a thing would an unprecedented mineral development, resulting in be good for Canada, or good for French Canada, is increased exports and a favorable balance of trade, the another question...
...The consequence was a heavy deniable prosperity of the country...
...But in vain...
...Meighen is dominated by Ontario They were suspicious of his new war policy...
Vol. 4 • October 1926 • No. 22
