Political Thought of Lord DurhamWhile the standard interpretation has portrayed Durham as prejudiced and ignorant about French Canada, Ajzenstat shows that, on the contrary, the assimilation proposal follows from Durham's consideration of ways of opening the widest political and economic opportunities for French Canadians. She argues that far from being "racist," as so many historians have suggested, Durham's proposals reflect the tolerance at the heart of liberalism which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, origin, or creed. To illuminate the Report's argument, Ajzenstat draws on Durham's speeches, letters, and dispatches, as well as material on Canada which he consulted before arriving at his final proposals. One of his sources, she argues, was Tocqueville's Democracy in America. She compares Durham's position on political reform in Britain and in the colonies and concludes that his ideas on reform, empire and revolution, political constitutions, nationality, and political culture form a single forceful theory. Ajzenstat suggests that Durham's argument clarifies what she sees as a present dilemma for Canada: that legislation intended to protect cherished minority traditions necessarily erodes liberal rights that those minorities hold equally dear. |
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Affairs of British ambitious argument assembly assimilation proposal believed Britain British North America chapter character Charles Buller Clarendon Press colonists commentators common constitution contest Craig edition cultural David Cameron debate democracy democratic Démocratie describes doctrine Durham argues Durham's analysis Durham's view Earl of Durham Edward Gibbon Wakefield elite empire England English-speaking ethnic example executive council fact Federal freedom French and English French Canadians French party Hansard Ibid idea imperial institutions John George Lambton laws leaders legislative council liberal justice liberal society Lord Durham Lord Durham's Report Lower Canada loyalty Lucas Macmillan mainstream majority McClelland and Stewart McRae McRoberts and Posgate ment mixed government modern nationalist notes parliamentary passage patriotes policies popular house position principles programs promote province Quebec race Radicals reforms religion religious representative responsible government Rioux Roebuck social speaks suggests tion Tocqueville's tolerance Toronto Press tradition union University of Toronto University Press upper whigs William Ormsby