Wilfrid Laurier ideas on Immigrants and being a Canadian in 1907

Since this was published two readers have stated that this photo is of Theodore Roosevelt.

Derek of St. Louis wrote in to point out that this same photograph appears at the Rights of the People website and purports to be of Theodore Roosevelt.

One wonders if either version is correct.

Received in an email. Interesting thoughts in1907 on Immigration.

'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes a Canadian British subject and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet a Canadian, and nothing but a Canadian...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is a Canadian, but something else also, isn't an Canadian at all. We have room for but one flag, the Union Jack (Canadian flag)... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the Canadian people.' -- Wilfrid Laurier 1907

Posted by R.P. BenDedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

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