it was Gouin's main business
to continue being elected. Had he gone out on behalf of enlistments,
to educate his people, even to speak for France, he would have been in
danger of converting Gouin Liberals into Nationalists.

Ontario cannot fail to make an asset of Gouin's anti-Nationalism. He
was never for any of the violent doctrines propounded by my friend on
the Terrace. He would not oppose Quebec going to war. I am sure he
God-speeded the 22nd who died at Courcellette. He was the Premier of a
free Province. Those men had freely gone. Others--the majority--had
freely stayed. But an election was coming; where everybody would be
free to vote.

Then there were the clergy; most of them friends of Gouin. The
Cardinal at Quebec had been interviewed by Sir Sam Hughes on aid to
enlistments. Gouin could have told Hughes that he would fail; that
Begin, though not a Nationalist, was a reactionary. The bilingual
controversy was still acute. Gouin could not have gone out or sent
emissaries out, to reason with French-Canadians about marching with a
Province which had denied the French language rights in contrast to the
Government's own claim that it had given rights to the Anglo minority
in Quebec.

Conscription was coming. It was a precarious time. The master of
Quebec had to move cautiously. His loyalty to Britain was never
questioned. His faith in a United Canada was never doubted. Had
Quebec been all for Gouin instead of Gouin all for Quebec, the
Premier's way would have been easier. Better let well enough alone;
encourage those to enlist who really wanted to go--because Quebec was a
free country.

Then there was the Laurier influence. Had the old man gone in with the
Premier to help the Ottawa Government--

Impossible. Neither of them was asked before Coalition came on the
heels of conscription. And when conscription came, the minority of
Nationalists opposed to the war became the majority of Quebeckers who
preferred not to comply with the law. From disregarding the law to
rebellion, to Nationalism was not far. Gouin had the balance to hold.

The Cardinal's attitude on conscription made Gouin's position still
more difficult. His letter to the press bluntly put the Roman Catholic
Church above temporal law. One heard of no rebuke from the Premier of
Quebec to the Cardinal. A Cardinal may be above politics.

Sir Lomer was playing the game of safety, when from his own temperament
and position an