DCHP-1 Online

French party

• 1 n. Hist. in Lower Canada, a faction serving the political interests of French Canadians.

  • 1822  The French party knew they could rely upon these men, for it was their interest, to oppose the re-union. . . .
  • 1858  Mr. Cameron stands, in regard to the French party, in a still worse position even than Dr. Rolph--He is simply despised by them.
  • 1923  William Grant had sat in the Legislative Council since 1778 and had won the especial dislike of the French party, in the days of Hamilton and Pope.
  • 1963  The controversy became bitter [c1805] when two English newspapers . . . attacked the French party for its stand on taxation.

• 2 n. in the Northwest, a faction serving the interests of the French-Canadians and Métis in their opposition to annexation of the territories by Canada without guarantees of their civil and religious rites.

  See also: Canadian party (def. 2)  

  • 1870  Are we going to have a French party and an English party; I say, no.
  • 1952  The French party, he declared, had indicated willingness to negotiate a settlement with Canada.