Once a month, The duty challenges history buffs to decipher a topical theme based on a comparison with a historical event or character.
In September 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada and 13 other countries, led to many questions about the institution she represented. The Quebec elections of October 2022, accompanied by a strong distortion between the popular vote and the deputations elected to the National Assembly, have also raised their share of questions as to the form of our political system.
Thus, the question of whether Canada and Quebec belong to the British Crown and that of our democratic system have come back into the news. In this context, the republican idea — which would get rid of the monarchy and improve popular sovereignty — resurfaced. The project is not new and has frequently been at the heart of discussions for two centuries. Back to an idea that made people dream, and which still has a future.
Circle of Lights
As early as 1774, the American Continental Congress called on Canadians to form their own body of representatives and to join the project of emancipation of the North American colonies. Despite the lack of response to this initial appeal, the republican idea gradually penetrated the shores of the St. Lawrence.
In the 1780s, a “circle of Enlightenment” was formed in Montreal, led by the printer Fleury Mesplet (1734-1794). There is also Henry-Antoine Mézière (1771-1846), who supported the French Republic proclaimed in September 1792. Mézière ignited the cause and worked to spread revolutionary ideas here, going so far as to ask for the support of France to liberate the Canadian people from British despotism. The population also became active and various movements of defiance towards the Crown occurred, notably in 1794 and 1796.
A few decades later, it was thanks to the Parti canadien, which in 1826 became the Parti patriote, that republican ideas experienced a new lease of life. The party, moderate at first, became more radical in the face of London’s obstinate refusal to grant more democracy to Lower Canada. In 1834, he presented his 92 resolutions to the Legislative Assembly, in which he demanded government reform so that the legislative and executive councils would be elected, and the government as a whole would be held accountable to the people for its actions.
Resolution 42 states that the people desire “to make their institutions extremely popular” and that “that is wise, that is excellent.” Failure to comply with these demands could lead Canadians to imitate the American revolutionaries, which the resolutions suggest despite the reminder of Lower Canada’s loyalty to the Crown.
In March 1837, London doubled its wrongs with an affront: the democratic demands of the patriots were rejected and the Legislative Assembly lost its right to oversee the finances of the province.
Republican way
The tumultuous 1830s led several politicians on the Republican path, including the leader of the Patriote Party, Louis-Joseph Papineau (1786-1871), and MP Robert Nelson (1793-1873). Both, faced with the British Empire’s denial of democracy, came to promote the republic as the only regime capable of asserting popular sovereignty in Lower Canada. They were driven by two objectives: to replace the British regime with democracy and to establish equality of citizens before the law.
In May 1837, in his speech at Saint-Laurent, Papineau spoke of the American Republic as “the most perfect structure of government that genius and virtue have yet erected for the happiness of man in society.” It seems that for him, the time of the colonies is over: “Who says colony, says plunder and insolence among the rulers, abasement and penury among the governed. If he says half-heartedly that a union between the Crown and the Canadas is still possible, how can we seriously consider it?
The patriots and the people aspire to a democratic and responsible government which seems irreconcilable with an aristocratic executive granting itself broad prerogatives, including the appointment of councils and the veto on laws voted in the Assembly. Indeed, “the unnatural aristocracies of birth, money, scheming baseness” will be held as enemies if they attempt to decide the fate and interests of Canadians.
On June 15, the British authorities prohibit patriot assemblies. The mobilization did not stop, however, and republican ideas spread, even became more radical. Several political leaders and a large part of the population adopt anti-monarchist and anti-seigneurial positions, favorable to a real democracy including the election of the legislative and executive powers, as well as the political equality of the citizens.
Suiting the action to the word, the Republicans animate the patriot rebellions, which see several armed confrontations between the Canadian militias and the British army. In January 1838, the patriot leaders in exile in the United States decided to establish a provisional government. On February 28, the Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada is proclaimed.
Since the Crown has “plundered our treasury”, established “the most atrocious reign of terror” and violated “our dearest rights”, it declares that Lower Canada “is absolved of all allegiance to Great Britain”. and that it “must take the form of a republican government and now declare itself, in fact, a republic”.
Robert Nelson, drafter of the Declaration and the new president of this republic, continues: “All citizens will have the same rights”, including indigenous people. The text proclaims the total dissociation between the State and the Church, as well as the freedom of worship, and abolishes the seigniorial rights. In addition, “full freedom of the press” and “public and general education” are enacted. Finally, the nationalization of Crown lands and clergy reserves is planned.
Clearly inspired by the French Revolution, this declaration must be followed by the election by universal male suffrage of a convention which will establish a republican constitution. Unfortunately, the Patriots’ defeats at Lacolle and then at Odelltown in November 1838 decided otherwise.
The insurgency movement is defeated, several leaders are arrested, the others are forced into exile. Robert Nelson, discouraged, gave up politics and returned to his medical practice, settling permanently in the United States.
The horizon of a popular government
Despite the failure of Papineau’s and Nelson’s projects, how not to find a certain nobility and inspiration in their ideas? On October 24, 1837, Papineau declared that “a system of government entirely dependent on the people and directly responsible to them” was needed. He and Nelson defend true citizen participation in public life, equal rights, the possibility of controlling political life through the legislative power, the responsibility of all representatives and, more broadly, the assertion of popular sovereignty. If the American model on which Papineau relied is nowadays very tarnished, what about Nelson’s project?
In the face of current political stalemates, it seems that the spirit that animated the 1838 Declaration of Independence can still inspire us. Isn’t it time to break with the iniquitous British monarchy, which not only remains a financial burden for citizens, but which also ultimately blocks our sovereign action? In Nelson’s sense, can we establish equal relationships with indigenous people, from sovereign nation to sovereign nation?
If we’re serious about separating church and state, isn’t it time to end tax breaks for religious organizations? Finally, it seems necessary to offer the same quality education to all citizens, if we want everyone to be adequately equipped to participate in political and social life.
While the British monarchy is increasingly questioned in Canada and Quebec, and the democratic nature of our institutions is lacking, the republican project resulting from the French Revolution and carried by Robert Nelson offers possible solutions. The establishment of a republic would allow real control of the institutions by the population and would open the door to improved democracy.
Indeed, an egalitarian education, as well as institutional reforms increasing the representation of each vote and establishing participatory structures are able to positively transform our relationship to political life. These ideas – carried by the patriots, Arthur Buies, Éva Circé-Côté or even Pierre Bourgault – can serve as a primer for the establishment of an authentic democracy.
To propose a text or to make comments and suggestions, write to Dave Noël at [email protected].