During this whole period, Provancher maintained an overall anti-evolutionist (particularly anti-Lamarckian) stance; for example, he published several virulent attack on evolution from François-Xavier Burque. However, the naturalist still got into disagreements with the more extreme elements of Quebec ultramontanes over some theological points. A polemist at heart, he had a particularly violent dispute with journalist Jules-Paul Tardivel, in which he was defended by Burque, and his University and Archdiocese. In another instance, he called Lamarckism a theory "serving the self-pride of materialist French politicians, Bert, Hugo referring to both Victor Hugo and his sons, Ferry, Goblet, and Clémenceau." He also launched a crusade in the journal's pages against another journal, the "Journal des Campagnes", an agricultural magazine published by the teachers at Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière over a perceived slight. This dispute degenerated to the point of involving MLAs, ministers, and finally the Archbishop of Quebec, who chastised both journal editors.