One thing seemed clear--Carnac's policy had elements of seduction
appealing to the selfishness of all sections, and he had an eloquence
which would make Barouche uneasy. That eloquence was shown in a speech
Carnac made in the late evening to the assembled executive. He spoke for
only a quarter of an hour, but it was long enough to leave upon all who
heard him an impression of power, pertinacity, picturesqueness and
appeal. He might make mistakes, but he had qualities which would ride
over errors with success.
"I'm not French," he said at last in his speech, "but I used to think and
write in French as though I'd been born in Normandy. I'm English by birth
and breeding, but I've always gone to French schools and to a French
University, and I know what New France means. I stand to my English
origin, but I want to see the French develop here as they've developed in
France, alive to all new ideas, dreaming good dreams. I believe that
Frenchmen in Canada can, and should, be an inspiration to the whole
population. Their great qualities should be the fibre in the body of
public opinion. I will not pander to the French; I will not be the slave
of the English; I will be free, and I hope I shall be successful at the
polls.
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