The Intellectual Development of the Canadian People | Page 3

Dominion has been peopled, before proceeding to follow the progress
of intellectual culture. So far, the history of Canada may be divided into
three memorable periods of political and social development. The first
period lasted during the years of French dominion; the second, from the
Conquest to the Union of 1840, during which the provinces were
working out representative institutions; the third, from 1840 to 1867,
during which interval the country enjoyed responsible government, and
entered on a career of material progress only exceeded by that of the
great nation on its borders. Since 1867, Canada has commenced a new
period in her political development, the full results of which are yet a
problem, but which the writer believes, in common with all hopeful
Canadians, will tend eventually to enlarge her political condition, and
place her in a higher position among communities. It is only necessary,
however, to refer particularly to the three first periods in this
introductory chapter, which is merely intended to show as concisely as
possible those successive changes in the social and political
circumstances of the provinces, which have necessarily had the effect
of stimulating the intellectual development of the people.
Religion and commerce, poverty and misfortune, loyalty and devotion
to the British Empire, have brought into the Dominion of Canada the
people who, within a comparatively short period of time, have won
from the wilderness a country whose present condition is the best
evidence of their industrial activity. Religion was a very potent
influence in the settlement of New France. It gave to the country--to the
Indian as well as to the Frenchman--the services of a zealous, devoted
band of missionaries who, with unfaltering courage, forced their way
into the then trackless West, and associated their names to all time with
the rivers, lakes, and forests of that vast region, which is now the most
productive granary of the world. In the wake of these priestly pioneers
followed the trader and adventurer to assist in solving the secrets of

unknown rivers and illimitable forests. From the hardy peasantry of
Normandy and Brittany came reinforcements to settle the lands on the
banks of the St Lawrence and its tributary rivers, and lay the
foundations of the present Province of Quebec. The life of the
population, that, in the course of time, filled up certain districts of the
province, was one of constant restlessness and uncertainty which
prevented them ever attaining a permanent prosperity. When the French
regime disappeared with the fall of Quebec and Montreal, it can hardly
be said there existed a Canadian people distinguished for material or
intellectual activity. At no time under the government of France had the
voice of the 'habitants' any influence in the councils of their country. A
bureaucracy, acting directly under the orders of the King of France,
managed public affairs; and the French Canadian of those times, very
unlike his rival in New England, was a mere automaton, without any
political significance whatever. The communities of people that were
settled on the St. Lawrence and in Acadia were sunk in an intellectual
lethargy--the natural consequence not only of their hard struggle for
existence, but equally of their inability to take a part in the government
of the country. It was impossible that a people who had no inducement
to study public affairs--who could not even hold a town or parish
meeting for the establishment of a public schools--should give many
signs of mental vigour. Consequently, at the time of the Conquest, the
people of the Canadian settlements seemed to have no aspirations for
the future, no interest in the prosperity or welfare of each other, no real
bonds of unity. The very flag which floated above them was an
ever-present evidence of their national humiliation.
So the first period of Canadian history went down amid the deepest
gloom, and many years passed away before the country saw the gleam
of a brighter day. On one side of the English Channel, the King of
France soon forgot his mortification at the loss of an unprofitable
'region of frost and snow;' on the other side, the English Government
looked with indifference, now that the victory was won, on the
acquisition of an alien people who were likely to be a source of trouble
and expense. Then occurred the War of American Independence, which
aroused the English Ministry from their indifference and forced into the
country many thousands of resolute, intelligent men, who gave up

everything in their devotion to one absorbing principle of loyalty. The
history of these men is still to be written as respects their real influence
on the political and social life of the Canadian Provinces. A very
superficial review, however, of the characteristics of these pioneers will
show that they were men of strong opinions and great force