These controversies and conflicts of opinion became factors in Canadian politics.  The Conservatives sought in the general elections of 1900 to make an issue out of the government’s hesitation in taking part in the South African war in advance of the meeting of parliament; this, plus injudicious and provocative speeches by the incalculable Mr. Tarte and the general indictment of Laurier as lukewarm towards the cause of a “united Empire” weakened the Liberals in Ontario; but this loss was easily off-set by gains elsewhere.  Again in 1904 the Dundonald issue was effective only in Ontario which, in keeping with what appears to be an instinctive political process, was beginning to consolidate itself as a make-weight against the overwhelming predominance of Liberalism in Quebec.  In the 1908 elections the Imperial question was almost quiescent in the English provinces; but it was beginning to emerge in a different guise and with aspects distinctly threatening to Laurier in his own province.

“Colonialism ingrained and immitigable”

Laurier in resisting the Chamberlain push knew that even English-Canada, long somnolent under a colonial regime, was not in the mood to accept the radical innovations that were being planned in Whitehall; and he knew, still better, that his own people would be against the programme to a man.  The colonialism of the French-Canadians was immitigable and ingrained.  They had secured from the British parliament in 1774 special immunities and privileges as the result of Sir Guy Carleton’s hallucination that given these the French-Canadian habitant would assist the British authorities in chastising the rebellious American colonists into submission.  These privileges, continued and embodied in the act of confederation, were enjoyed by the French-Canadians—­as they believed—­by virtue of Imperial guarantees; they held that they were safe in their enjoyment only While there was in the last analysis British control over Canada and while the final judgment on Canadian laws was passed by British courts.  But their colonialism, unlike that of the English-Canadians, was of a quality that could never be transmuted into Imperialism.  The racial mysticism of that movement repelled them; and still more they were deterred by the cost and dangers of Imperialistic adventure.  It was for England, in return for their whole-hearted acceptance of colonial subordination, to protect them internally against any courses by the English-Canadians which they might choose to regard as an infringement of their privileged position and externally against all danger of invasion or conquest.