Wilfrid Laurier — Canadian Statesman born on November 20, 1841, died on February 17, 1919

Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier GCMG PC KC, known as Wilfrid Laurier, was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada, in office from July 11, 1896, to October 6, 1911... (wikipedia)

Fraternity without absorption, union without fusion.
Two races share today the soil of Canada. These people had not always been friends. But I hasten to say it. There is no longer any family here but the human family. It matters not the language people speak, or the altars at which they kneel.
Confederation is a compact, made originally by four provinces but adhered to by all the nine provinces who have entered it, and I submit to the judgment of this house and to the best consideration of its members, that this compact should not be lightly altered.
Let them look to the past, but let them also look to the future; let them look to the land of their ancestors, but let them look also to the land of their children.
This country must be governed, and can be governed, simply on questions of policy and administration and the French Canadians who have had any part in this movement have never had any other intention but to organise upon those party distinctions and upon no other.