Berger, Carl. The Writing of Canadian History. Aspects of English-Canadian History Writing Since 1900. Toronto: Laurier was a statesman who, upon the right issues, could hold firm when he so desired. Laurier was acutely aware that the Liberals was a somewhat raggedy union of disparate political factions. The Liberals were comprised of the anticlerical Rogues, the Reformers from Ontario and generally all those who originally had been opposed to confederation or wary of McDonald's integrity (Watkins 328). In attempting to preside over the Liberal party from 1887 to 1919, Laurier was extremely conscious of the need to appease all of these factions. Careless, J. M. S. and R. Craig Brown, eds. The Canadians 1867- Mandel, Eli and David Taras. A Passion for Identity. Toronto: Metheun, 1987. Schull, Joseph. Laurier. The First Canadian. New York: St. McInnis, Edgar. Canada: A Political and Social History. New York: Rinehart & Co., 1959. McNaught, Kenneth William. The Penguin History of Canada. New Laurier's contention as a Quebecois politician was that the survival of French Canada was best ensured by maintaining its individuality within federal Canada (Watkins 207). As a member of the Liberal party, Laurier attacked the "jingoism of the turn-of-the-century contemporaries" (Watkins 312). In an attempt to avoid the political fray of the early 20th century, Laurier declared in a parliament speech: It would appear that one of the major reasons that Laurier lost his power base is that his own region, Quebec, turned against him. Ironically, it was the French who seemed so vehemently to protest against him. They disliked his willingness to edge too close to England. Any policy which seemed friendly to imperialist concerns seemed hostile to French-speaking Canadians' independence. Yet the irony doubles. For if the French were disturbed by his pro-British stance (or what they perceived it to be), a growing number of English-speaking |
