Lessons of Cartier's Life
What were the lessons of Cartier's life? They may be summed up in the three words—patriotism, duty, and tolerance. He loved his country and sought to promote its interests, he wore himself out in the discharge of his public duties, he was a man of the broadest views and the utmost tolerance. As Sir Adolphe Routhier has well remarked, to most public men public life is a career, but for Cartier it was an apostolate, a patriotic mission, and to fulfill that mission he sacrificed everything, even the modest fortune of which his family had need.[5]
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.
Macdonald, Cartier, Tupper, Tilley, Brown, Galt, and the other great Fathers of Confederation builded better even than they knew. As the result of their wise statesmanship and patriotic efforts, Canada to-day stands a young giant amongst the peoples of the world. Under Confederation there has been witnessed a marvellous expansion and an unprecedented prosperity. We have to-day, to use the words of one of the most patriotic of our national poets, John Daniel Logan,—we have to-day a land:—
Blessed with youth and strength, with health and peace.
And great as is the position of the Dominion at present, it is insignificant to what it will be if Canadians are only true to the teachings of the Fathers, if they all work together for the common welfare, if they are true to the national interests of the Dominion, and guard their great heritage against all influences of an insidious character.