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diff --git a/37792-8.txt b/37792-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4f8de7 --- /dev/null +++ b/37792-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11439 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of England, Canada and the Great War, by +Louis-Georges Desjardins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: England, Canada and the Great War + +Author: Louis-Georges Desjardins + +Release Date: October 18, 2011 [EBook #37792] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLAND, CANADA AND THE GREAT WAR *** + + + + +Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + + + + +[Chapter numbering is as in the original publication, omitting chapter +numbers XXV and XXVI. (note of etext transcriber.)] + + + + + ENGLAND, CANADA AND THE GREAT WAR + + BY + + Lieutenant-Colonel L.-G. DESJARDINS + + Ex-member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec + and of the House of Commons of Canada. + + QUEBEC + Chronicle Print. + + October 1st, 1918 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Even since the issue, last year, of my book:--"_L'Angleterre, Le Canada +et la Grande Guerre_"--"_England, Canada and the Great War_"--a second +edition of which I had to publish, a few weeks later, to meet the +pressing demand of numerous readers--I have been repeatedly asked by +influential citizens to publish an English edition of my work. + +A delegate from Quebec to the National Unity--or +Win-the-War--Convention, in Montreal, I had the pleasure of meeting a +great many of the delegates from Toronto and all over the Dominion. Many +of them insisted upon the publication of an English edition. + +Having written that book for the express and patriotic purpose of +proving the justice of the cause of the Allies in the Great War, and +refuting Mr. Bourassa's false and dangerous theories, I realized that +the citizens of Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, who strongly +advised an English edition to be circulated in all the Provinces, +appreciated the good it could make. + +I consider it is my imperious duty to dedicate to my English speaking +countrymen this volume containing all the substance matter of my French +book, and the defense a truly loyal French Canadian has made of the +sacred cause of Civilization and Liberty for the triumph of which the +glorious Allied Nations have been so heroically fighting for the last +four eventful years. + +As I say, in the Introduction to this work, I first intended to write +only an English resumé of my French book. But once at work writing down, +the questions to consider were so important, and the replies to the +Nationalist leader's inconceivable theories so numerous, that I had to +double and more the pages I had thought would be sufficient for my +purpose. I realized that many points, to be fully explained, required +more comments and argumentation that I had at first supposed necessary. + +Moreover, since writing my French book, most important events have taken +place. To have the present English volume up to date, I had to consider +recent history in its very latest developments, and reply to the +Nationalist leader's last errors, which by no means were not the least. +When once a man has run off the path of reason and sound public sense, +he is sure to rush to most dangerous extremes, unless he has the moral +courage to acknowledge that he was sadly mistaken. + +I trust that the English speaking readers of this book, will not, for a +single moment, suppose that I am actuated by the least ill-feeling +against Mr. Bourassa personally, in the severe but just denunciation it +was my plain duty to make of his deplorable Nationalist campaign. + +For many years past, I have ever been delighted in welcoming promising +young men to the responsibilities of public life. I remember with a +mixed feeling of pleasure and regret the occasion I first heard Mr. +Bourassa, then a youth, addressing a very large public meeting held on +the nomination day of the candidates to a pending bye-election for the +House of Commons of Canada: Pleasure at the recollection of what I +considered a fairly successful beginning of a political career; deep +regret at the failure to justify the hopes of his compatriots and his +friends through an uncontrollable ambition always sure to deter, even +the best gifted, from the safe line of duty, well understood, and +firmly, but modestly, performed. + +Passion, aspiring and unbridled, is always a dangerous counsellor. Mr. +Bourassa could have had a useful political life, if he had realized that +public good cannot be well served by constant appeals to race +prejudices, and by persevering efforts to achieve success by stirring up +fanaticism. + +The result of the unpatriotic course he has followed, against the advice +of his best friends, has been to sow in our great and happy Dominion the +seed of discord, of hatred, of racial conflicts. + +Unfortunately, for the country, for his French Canadian compatriots, and +for himself, he was deluded to the point of believing that the war would +be his grand opportunity. + +Instead of using his influence to promote the national unity so +essential under the trying circumstances with which Canada and the whole +British Empire was suddenly confronted, he exerted himself to the utmost +to prevail on his French Canadian countrymen to assume a decisive +hostile stand to the noble cause which Britain had to fight for, in +order to avenge the crime of the violation of Belgium's territory, to +protect France from German cruel invasion, and to prevent Autocratic +power from enslaving Humanity. + +Such a misconception of a truly loyal man's part was most detrimental to +the good of Canada's future, to the destinies of the French Canadians, +and to the political standing of the publicist who was its willing +victim. + +And to-day he finds himself in this position that he has no other choice +but that of pursuing, at all hazards, his unwholesome campaign against +all things British, or, boldly retracing his steps, to go back on all he +has said and written to support inadmissible views, vain ideas, and +passionate prejudices. + +The latter course would certainly be the best to follow in the interest +of his country, of his French Canadian countrymen, and of his usefulness +as a public man. But, however much to be regretted, he seems utterly +unable to overcome the prejudices which have taken such deep root in his +heart and mind. + +Prejudice, constantly cultured, soon develops into blind fanaticism, +closing the intellect to the light of sound logic, to the call of duty, +to the clear comprehension of what is best to do to promote the public +good. + +However seriously guilty he may be, the public man, so swayed by a +fanatical passion, is sure not to rally to the defense of the superior +interests of his countrymen when they are threatened by a great +misfortune. + +I cannot help deploring that after giving good hopes of a life +patriotically devoted to the increasing welfare of Canada, by doing his +share in promoting the best feelings among his countrymen of all races, +classes and creeds, one of my kin, really gifted to play a much better +part, has been so sadly mistaken as to exhaust his activities in forcing +his way to the leadership of a group of malcontents unable to overcome +their racial antipathies and listen to reason, even when their country +and the Empire to which they have sworn allegiance are destructively +menaced. + +He has nobody else to blame but himself for the failure of his political +career, due to his misguided efforts in thwarting the happiness and +prosperity which our great Dominion would certainly derive from the +persevering union of all the citizens enjoying the blessings of her free +British institutions, to work out her brilliant destinies by their +intelligent labours, their hearted patriotism in peace times, and with +their undaunted courage and their self-sacrificing devotion in war +days. + +After a somewhat prolonged spectacular display in the House of Commons, +as member for the electoral division of Labelle, he felt instinctively +that he had exhausted what he considered his usefulness, and was doomed +to a dismal failure. He retired from the Dominion political arena, to +try his luck in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec. No +wiser a man by experience, he challenged the Leader of the parliamentary +majority to a truly duellist struggle on the floor of the House. He +thrusted at his opponent with the vigour of a combatant certain to +conquer. All those who witnessed this encounter, must remember how +completely overbearing confidence, proudly asserted, was overcome by +calm and superior argumentative power, sound and clear political sense. +True parliamentary eloquence easily brought to reason pedantic and +bombastic oratory. The first throw--_le début_--went decidedly against +the Nationalist leader. A beaten fighter from this very first day, he +met with as complete a failure in the provincial political arena as he +had done in the federal one. Wisely indeed, he retired from +parliamentary life, after realizing that debating power cannot be +acquired by demagogic speaking. + +The Nationalist leader next limited his efforts to the tribune, to the +public platform. All remember the time when he was periodically calling +great popular meetings held in _Le Monument National_, Montreal, where +he preached his Nationalist gospel with vehement talking. This new +experiment could not last. It soon subsided. And the Nationalist leader +is since addicted to pamphleteering of the worst kind as I will show in +this book. + +Deeply moved by the dangers of a most mischievous campaign, I considered +it my bounded duty to do my utmost efforts to prove how utterly wrong +were the views which those pursuing it with passionate energy wanted to +prevail, and to show the sad consequences it was sure to produce. + +Having first addressed myself to my French Canadian compatriots to +persuade them how much detrimental to their best future the Nationalist +campaign was sure to be, I am to-day laying the case before my English +speaking countrymen, at the urgent request of many of them, in order to +fully acquaint them with the refutation I have made, to the best of my +ability, of Mr. Bourassa's erroneous theories and wild charges against +England and all those who patriotically support our mother country in +the great struggle she has had to wage after doing all she possibly +could to maintain the peace of the world. + +I ardently desire that the reading of the following pages, will +contribute to the restoration of harmony and good will, for a while +endangered by the Nationalist campaign, in our wide Dominion, to whose +happiness, prosperity and grandeur we, of both English and French +origins, must devote our best energies and all the resources of our +unwavering patriotism. + + L. G. DESJARDINS. + Quebec, October 1st, 1918. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + Chapter Page + --INTRODUCTION 1 + I --WHO ARE THE GUILTY PARTIES? 25 + II --THE PERSISTENT EFFORTS OF ENGLAND + IN FAVOUR OF PEACE 29 + III --THE CALL TO DUTY IN CANADA 40 + IV --RECRUITING BY VOLUNTARY SERVICE 46 + V --INTERVENTION OF NATIONALISM 49 + VI --WHAT DO WE OWE ENGLAND? 51 + VII --CANADA IS NOT A SOVEREIGN STATE 55 + VIII --GERMAN ILLUSIONS 67 + IX --THE NATIONALIST ERROR 68 + X --HAD CANADA THE RIGHT TO HELP ENGLAND? 71 + XI --THE DUTY OF CANADA 74 + XII --THE SOUDANESE AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN + WARS 77 + XIII --BRITISH AND GERMAN ASPIRATIONS + COMPARED 87 + SUB-TITLE--CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPLY 93 + " --TRANSPORT 97 + " --THE AIR SERVICE 98 + " --THE FINANCIAL EFFORT OF + GREAT BRITAIN 100 + " --ACHIEVEMENTS OF DOMINION, + COLONIAL AND INDIAN + TROOPS 101 + XIV --THE VERITABLE AIMS OF THE ALLIES 104 + SUB-TITLE--THE ONLY POSSIBLE PEACE + CONDITIONS 111 + XV --JUST AND UNJUST WARS 116 + SUB-TITLE--A "NATIONALIST" ILLOGICAL + CHARGE AGAINST ENGLAND 125 + " --OTHER "NATIONALIST" ERRONEOUS + ASSERTIONS 128 + " --INCREDIBLE "NATIONALIST" + NOTIONS 131 + " --CANADIAN FINANCIAL OPERATIONS + IN THE UNITED STATES 134 + XVI --"NATIONALIST" VIEWS CONDENSED 139 + XVII --LOYAL PRINCIPLES PROPOUNDED 143 + SUB-TITLE--UNJUST "NATIONALIST" + GRIEVANCES AGAINST ENGLAND 150 + XVIII --IMPERIALISM 164 + XIX --AMERICAN IMPERIALISM 177 + XX --BRITISH IMPERIALISM 189 + XXI --THE SITUATIONS OF 1865 AND 1900-14 + COMPARED 194 + XXII --BRITISH IMPERIALISM NATURALLY + PACIFIST 198 + XXIII --BRITISH IMPERIALISM AND POLITICAL + LIBERTY 207 + XXIV --IMPERIAL FEDERATION AND "BOURASSISM" 216 + SUB-TITLE--CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT + OF INDIA 227 + XXVII --THE FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS + OF THE EMPIRE 231 + SUB-TITLE--NO TAXATION WITHOUT + REPRESENTATION 235 + " --COLONIAL REPRESENTATION 236 + " --THE FAR OFF FUTURE 247 + " --A MACHIAVELLIAN PROPOSITION 251 + " --A TREASONABLE PROPOSAL 259 + XXVIII --OUTRAGES ARE NO REASONS 267 + XXIX --HOW MR. BOURASSA PAID HIS COMPLIMENTS + TO THE CANADIAN ARMY 277 + XXX --RASH DENUNCIATION OF PUBLIC + MEN 288 + XXXI --MR. BOURASSA'S DANGEROUS PACIFISM 302 + XXXII --A MOST REPREHENSIBLE ABUSE OF + SACRED APPEALS TO THE BELLIGERENT + NATIONS 307 + XXXIII --A CASE FOR TRUE STATESMANSHIP 321 + XXXIV --AFTER-THE-WAR MILITARY PROBLEM 324 + XXXV --THE INTERVENTION OF THE UNITED + STATES IN THE WAR 334 + XXXVI --THE ALLIES--RUSSIA--JAPAN 348 + XXXVII --THE LAST PEACE PROPOSALS 357 + XXXVIII --NECESSARY PEACE CONDITIONS 372 + XXXIX --CONCLUSION 383 + APPENDIX--A 411 + APPENDIX--B 421 + + + + + England, Canada and the Great War + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Canada, as one of the most important component parts of the British +Empire, is going through the crucial ordeal of the great crisis which +will determine her destinies jointly with those of the whole world. +Instantly put under the strain, four years ago, by the outrageous +challenge of Germany to human civilization with the criminal purpose of +universal domination, she was fully equal to her unbounded duty. +Conscious of her sacred rights, she at once realized that the +constitutional liberties which she enjoyed in the freest Empire of all +times, could not be more patriotically exercised than for the defence of +the sacred cause which united in a gigantic effort England, France and +Russia, soon to receive the support of Italy. By an almost unanimous and +enthusiastic decision she rallied to the flag around which all the +Dependencies of the Empire gathered from the five continents. Never a +more inspiring array of loyal subjects, owing allegiance to a +Sovereignty, was witnessed in the wide world. + +Through the trying days of four full years of the greatest war which +ever saddened the life of the human race, Canada has nobly, gloriously, +done her duty. Several hundred thousands of her devoted sons have rushed +to the front to fight the battle of Liberty, of Right, of Civilization. +Thousands of them have heroically given their lives for the triumph of +the cause which, if finally triumphant, will brighten with freedom, +prosperity, human happiness and undying glory, the destinies of many +generations. + +The struggle is not over. The battle is not yet won. Victory is in sight +but unfortunately still so far distant, that it is still calling forth +the undaunted exertions of all those who have pledged their faith to +rescue the world from the cruel thraldom of German militarism. + +Two years ago, at the critical period which culminated in the undecided +military operations which, though rendered illustrious by the glorious +defence of Verdun, made it plain to the Allies that success would only +be the reward of a much more prolonged effort of untold sacrifices, I +undertook to write the book entitled in French: "_L'Angleterre, le +Canada et la Grande Guerre_." + +Several of the most influential and widely circulated News-papers of +Montreal, Toronto and Quebec, have kindly published highly appreciative +Reviews of the French Edition of my book, concluding with the request of +the publication of an English Edition, which, they affirmed, would be +conducive to the public good. I have received many letters and verbal +demands to the same purpose. + +It is my duty to answer to a call daily becoming more pressing. + +I now offer to the English reading public a condensed edition of my +work, with the title "_England, Canada and the Great War_." I concluded +not to issue a complete English Edition of the French volume. Instead of +translating my book, I considered it more advisable to write an English +synopsis of its contents. Undertaking such a work, I realized more than +ever how important it is for the Citizens of Canada to be able to speak +and write the languages of the two great races of the Dominion. Knowing +well my own deficiency in this regard, I hoped, however, to write the +following pages with enough clearness to have my views well understood, +trusting to the kindness of my readers to excuse the inadequacy of my +command of English. + +A few words explaining the reasons that prompted me to write the French +book will, I am confident, be kindly appreciated by my readers. A close +observer of the daily impressions which the events developed by the war +were creating in Canada, I felt more and more deeply grieved at the +persistent and unpatriotic efforts of the leaders of the Nationalist +school of the Province of Quebec, and their henchmen, to sway my +French-Canadian countrymen from the clear path of duty. I undertook +earnestly to do my best to stem the threatening wave of disloyal +sentiments and racial conflict they were stirring up throughout the +land. "_England, Canada and the Great War_" was the result of the very +careful study of the numerous questions therein considered and of the +patriotic impulse which led me to publish it. + +I dedicated the volume to my French-Canadian countrymen by a letter from +which I translate the following: + +"It would surely be vain to conceal how serious was the situation +imposed upon our country by the sudden outbreak, in August, 1914, of the +greatest war of all times. It was dominated by the supreme fact that +Canada was a component part of one of the most powerful Empires whose +destinies were to be determined, for good or ill, for many long years, +by the terrible conflict suddenly opened, but, for a prolonged period, +prepared by those who dreamt of conquering the world." + +"Great Britain, our Sovereign Metropolis, had done her utmost to protect +Humanity against the misfortunes which endangered her future, for the +maintenance of peace. She had failed in her noble efforts. At the very +moment when, against all the most critical appearances, she was still +hopeful, she had, all of a sudden, to face the terrible alternative, +either to submit to national dishonour by complying with the violation +of solemn treaties which bound her as much as Germany, or to unite with +France and Russia to avenge Justice outrageously violated, sworn +international Faith, Civilization perilously threatened." + +"Could she hesitate for one single moment?" + +"Our Mother Country has done that which her most imperious duty +commanded her to do. She accepted the challenge of Germany with the +patriotic determination inspired by the most sacred cause. All the loyal +subjects of the British Crown have applauded her decision to rush to the +defence of invaded Belgium and France, to reclaim their national honour +and her own, and to protect her Empire against the German armies." + +"With the most inspiring unanimity and admirable courage, all the +British Colonies have rallied around the flag of their Sovereign +Metropolis to share the glory of the triumph of Right and Justice. At +the very front rank, Canada has nobly done her duty. Her decision was +most spontaneous and decisive. She was not deterred by fallacious +subtilties, deducted from pretended conventions, out of age and +opportunity, to hinder her laudable and patriotic course. Throughout the +length and breadth of her vast territory, all minds shared the same +view, all hearts were united and beating with the same powerful +sentiment." + +"The decision of Canada to participate in the present war was taken by +the constitutional government of the country, sanctioned by Parliament, +approved by public opinion, glorified by the hundreds of thousands of +brave volunteers who courageously answered the call of duty." + +"Views with which I cannot concur have been expressed and given full +publicity. They challenge discussion. It is my undoubted right to +criticize them." + +"Since the beginning of the present war, Mr. Henri Bourassa, in addition +to the daily publicity of his journal "_Le Devoir_", has developed, in +two principal pamphlets, the theories of his "_Nationalism_". They are +respectively entitled: "_Que devons-nous à l'Angleterre?_" "_What do we +owe England?_" and: "_Hier, Aujourd'hui, Demain_" "_Yesterday, To-day, +To-morrow_"." + +"In earnestly searching out the real causes of the war, the +responsibilities of the belligerent nations, their respective +aspirations, the duty imposed by the irresistable course of events upon +the British Empire and consequently upon Canada, I was incessantly +called upon to consider the very strange propositions contained in those +pamphlets." + +"It was with great surprise that I read, for instance, as the heading of +one of the chapters, the utterly false proposition that: "_The +Autonomous Colonies are Sovereign States._" + +"And these most extraordinary affirmations that the _King of England has +not the right to declare the State of war for Canada, without the assent +of the Canadian Cabinet; that Canada could have participated in the +present war as a Nation_." + +"It is my bounden duty to affirm that almost all the propositions +contained in the two above mentioned pamphlets are wrong according to +international law and to constitutional law, erroneous in their +historical bearings, contrary to the true teachings of the past." + +"Mr. Bourassa persistingly trying to convince his readers that the +precedents of the Soudanese and the South-African wars have forced the +British Colonies to participate in the present one, I considered it my +duty to make, in two separate chapters, a special study of those +military campaigns which, in both cases, were so felicitously terminated +for all parties concerned." + +"I cannot close this letter without expressing my profound regret that +Mr. Bourassa has thought proper to use most injurious language adding +outrage to the falsity of his opinions. At page 121 of his pamphlet: +"_Yesterday, To-day, To-morrow_", any one can read, no doubt with +astonishment, that Mr. Bourassa charges our countrymen of the British +races with being _ignorant, assuming, arrogant, dominating and rotten +with mercantilism_." + +"Such ridiculous and insulting words to the address of our countrymen of +the three British races are surely not calculated to increase Canadian +harmony." + +"This book, written for the express purpose of assisting you to form for +yourselves a sound opinion about the terrible events so rapidly +developing, was inspired by my loyalty to the Empire whose faithful +subject I glory to be, by my devotion to Canada and to my countrymen, by +the affectionate recollection of France I will cherish to my last day. + +"During the last fifty years, either as a private or as an officer of +the Canadian Militia--my service as such having lasted more than forty +years--as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of +Quebec, and as a member of the House of Commons of Canada, I have often +taken the oath of allegiance to the Sovereign of Great Britain. From my +early youth, I had learned that under the ægis of the British Crown, the +citizen of the Empire could be true to his oath, and enjoy the precious +liberty of expressing his opinion. But I had also soon realized that +during the lifetime of a Sovereign State, days of peril might occur. I +had easily come to the conclusion that in those trying moments the loyal +duty could be very happily reconciled with the most sincere love of +political liberty. + +"In defending with the most sincere conviction the sacred cause of the +Allies, I am doing my duty as a free subject of the British Empire, as a +citizen of Canada and of the Province of Quebec, as a son of France, as +a devoted servant of Justice and Right. I am true to my oath." + +I desire to call the special attention of my readers to the complete +sense of the last paragraph just quoted. I most decidedly wish its +meaning to be fully understood by all, as I intended to convey it to my +French Canadian compatriots. I have never concurred in the subtle +distinction so often made between the several notions entertained by +many respecting their duty towards the Empire and Canada separately. +Having witnessed, for the last fifty years, the admirable evolution and +natural growth of the British constitutional system over a fourth of the +globe, developing into the freest Empire that ever existed, my mind was +more and more impressed with the conviction that loyalty to the +Sovereignty presiding over such a magnificent national heritage could +not be of two different kinds. A free British subject, whether living in +the United Kingdom, or in any one of the Dependencies of the Crown, +cannot be at once loyal to the Empire at large and disloyal to any of +its component parts; or, _vice versa_, loyal to the particular section +of the State where he is living and at the same disloyal to the Empire. +Such a false conception of the duties of loyalty, if it could be spread +successfully throughout the Empire, would undoubtedly lead to its rapid +dissolution and complete destruction. Genuine loyalty cannot agree with +exclusive and rampant sectionalism, with local, racial or religious +prejudices and fanaticism. + +The few lines of the preceding closing paragraph of my letter dedicating +the French edition of my book as aforesaid, express my own conception of +the true loyalty of a faithful subject of the British Sovereignty, who +has the clear vision of the meaning of his oath of allegiance. In +consequence, first, I affirm my duty as a subject of the British Empire; +second, as a citizen of Canada; third, as a citizen of my own Province +of Quebec. And then, taking a wider range of the duty of any man towards +his ancestors' lineage, I declare that under the cruel circumstances of +the case, I also consider it is my duty to defend France against her +deadly enemy. Further enlarging the vision of duty to its fullest +extent, I say that I am bound to defend the cause of the Allies by +proving that I am a loyal servant of Justice and Right. + +Surely I could not emphasize in terms more pregnant my loyalty to the +cause of the British Empire, of France, and their Allies, of Liberty and +Civilization. I confidently hope they will persuade my readers that this +book was written with the most sincere and patriotic desire to help +rallying my French Canadian compatriots to the defence of the British, +French and Canadian flags, which must together emerge triumphant from +the gigantic fight against the most threatening wave of barbarism the +world has ever had to contend with at the cost of so great and heroic +sacrifices. + +When the first French edition of this book was issued, in January of +last year, matters respecting the prosecution of the war had not yet +required the serious consideration by Parliament and the country of the +question of conscription to maintain to their proper efficiency the +Canadian divisions on the firing line. Consequently, I was not then +called upon to consider that most important subject. When I had to +decide about publishing a second French edition--the first being +entirely exhausted--I at first thought of adding to my work a few +chapters respecting the most notable events developed by the gigantic +struggle shaking the world to its very basic foundation. Foremost +amongst them were the Russian sudden Revolution, the solemn entrance of +the United States into the great fight, the imperious necessity of the +military effort of the Allies far beyond that which had been foreseen, +in order to achieve the final victory which will be the only adequate +reward of their undaunted determination not to sheathe the sword before +Germany will agree to restore peace upon the only possible conditions +which will efficiently protect humanity from any other attempt at brutal +universal domination. The question of conscription in Canada was the +natural outcome of the progress of the deadly conflict between +Civilization and barbarism, constitutional Freedom and despotism, +democratic institutions and autocracy. + +I soon realized that I could not properly do justice to such grave +subjects in a few pages added to my first book. After mature +consideration, I considered it was my duty to undertake to write a +second volume. I have so informed the public in the _Advertisement_ +which prefaces the second French edition of the first. This second +volume I will soon issue, also intending to publish an English synopsis +of it, if that of the first volume meets the kind appreciation I hope of +my English speaking countrymen. + +However, pending the publication of the second volume, I think it is my +duty to express now my views, in a summary way, on that much discussed +question of obligatory military service. Let me preface by saying that +they are not new, having originated in my mind more than thirty years +ago. The military necessities of the present war have, of course, given +them more precision and clearness. + +Deeply conscious of the sacred duty of all truly loyal British subjects +through the present prolonged world crisis for the life or death of +human Liberty, I had to consider conscription from the double +stand-point of a free citizen of Canada and of my military experience +acquired in the course of a service of over forty years. + +Most strongly and convincingly opposed to the militarism of the +atrocious German type--the curse of Humanity--I have always +believed--and do still more and more believe--imbued, I hope, with the +true sense and principles of democratic institutions, that the greatest +boon that could be granted the world would be that the admirable +Christian law of peace and good-will amongst men would prevail for all +times, and save the nations from the cruel obligation of keeping +themselves constantly fully armed at the great cost of the best years of +manhood, and of their accumulated treasures. But unfortunately it has +not yet been the good luck of man to reach the goal of this most noble +ambition. Instead of a steady advance in the right direction, he has, +for the last fifty years, experienced a most dangerous set back by the +predominating influence of German militarism, developed and mastered by +the most autocratic power to the point of threatening the liberties of +the whole world. + +Need I say that, as a purely philosophical question of principle, I most +sincerely deplore that the political state of the world has been and is +such that national safety cannot be, in too many cases, properly assured +without the law of the land calling upon the manhood of a country to +make the sacrifice of part of the best years of enthusiastic youth, and +requiring from the nation, as a collective body, the expenditure, to an +untold amount, for the purposes of defence, of the accumulated savings +of hard work and intelligent thrift. + +Fortunately, the two continents of America, so abundantly blessed by +Providence, had, until the present war, been able to pursue their +prosperous and dignified course free from the entanglements of European +Militarism. + +Even England, in all the majesty of her Imperial power, her flag +gloriously waving over so many millions of free men, protected as she +was by the waves which she ruled with grandeur and grace, had succeeded +in avoiding the curse of continental conscriptionism. + +Between permanent conscription, despotically imposed upon a nation under +autocratic rule, and temporary military compulsion freely accepted by a +noble people for the very purpose of saving Humanity from military +absolutism, there is, every one must admit, a wide difference. I have +been, I am, and will be, to my last day, the uncompromising opponent of +autocratic conscription, which I consider as a permanent crime against +Christian Civilization, and the ready instrument of barbarous +domination. To temporary compulsion I can agree, as a matter of +patriotic and national duty, if the circumstances of the case are such +that without its timely use, my country which has the first and +undoubted right to my most patriotic devotion, at the cost of all I may +own and even of my life, for her defence, would fall the prey to +despotism which would bleed her to death to sway the world. + +Such is the ordeal through which Canada, the British Empire, in fact +much the greater part of the universe, are passing with torrents of +blood shed to rescue Mankind from the domination of German militarism. + +If Germany could have her course free; if she could reach the goal of +her criminal ambition, nearly the whole world would be, for many long +years, in the throes of the most abominable conscriptionism. + +If after the enthusiasm of voluntary military service has exhausted +itself from the very successful result of its patriotic effort, is it +not a duty for all loyal citizens to accept temporary compulsion, to +save their country from the horrors of defeat at the hands of the most +cruel enemy which has ever shamed the light of the sun since it shines +over the Human race blessed with Christian principles and moral +teachings. + +To the present generation of young men, strong, healthy, brave, let us +say: be worthy of the times you live in, be equal to the great task +imposed upon you, accepting with patriotism the sacrifices you are +called upon to make, never forgetting that temporary compulsion for you +means freedom from permanent conscription for your children and +children's children in years to come. + +It is from the very height of such lofty considerations that I have made +up my mind about this much vexed question which will, we must all +earnestly hope, be more and more well understood and eventually settled +to the everlasting good of the country once for all delivered from the +exasperating menace of German despotism. + +I must reserve for the second volume of this work, the fuller expression +of my views of what should be the military system to be maintained in +Canada, after the very wide experience we will have derived from the +present great war. All I will add now is that ever since the early +eighties of the last century, after many years of voluntary service in +the Canadian Militia, I had fully realized that it is no more possible +to make a real soldier by a few days yearly training, for three years, +than you can make a competent lawyer of a young man studying law for a +fortnight in the course of three consecutive years. + +Since the federal Union of the Provinces we had spent much more than a +hundred million of dollars for the training of our militia, with the +appalling result that when came the day of getting ready for the fray, +we had not two thousand men to send at once to the firing line. The +first thirty thousands of the brave men who enthusiastically volunteered +to go to the front had to be trained, at Valcartier and in England, +several months before being sent to face the enemy whose waves of +permanent divisions of armed men had overrun, like a torrent, Belgium +and northern France. Of course, our boys fought and died like heroes, +but nevertheless we at last learned, at our great cost, that soldiers no +more than lawyers, doctors, merchants, transportation managers, bankers, +business men of all callings, farmers, sailors, etc., can be qualified +in a day. + +When the time shall come to consider what will be the requirements of +our military organization, after this terrible struggle is over, I hope +none will forget that war is a great science, an awful and very +difficult art, so that we shall not deceive ourselves any longer by the +illusion that an army can be drawn from the earth in twenty four hours. + +Our most efficient military commander cannot entertain the foolish +delusion of Pompey, so crushingly beaten by Cæsar, at Pharsalia, that he +can raise legions by striking the ground with his foot. + +If our future national circumstances turn out to be such, after the +restoration of peace, that we will not be called upon to make heavy +sacrifices for defence--let Providence so bless our dear country--it +will then be much more rational to save our money than to squander it on +a military system which cannot produce military efficiency. + +The future can be trusted to settle favourably its own difficulties. For +us of the present generation, we have to attend to the imperative and +sacred duty of the hour. Let no one shirk his responsibilities, waver in +the heavy task, falter before the sacrifices to be patriotically and +heroically accepted. To deserve the everlasting gratitude of future +generations, we must secure to them the blessings of permanent peace in +a renovated world freed from the tyranny of autocratic despotism. + +Surely, I will be permitted to say that, undertaking to write _England, +Canada and the Great War_, I fully realized my bounden duty to study all +the questions raised by the terrible struggle, unreservedly, absolutely, +outside of all party considerations, of all racial prejudices. A party +man, in the only true and patriotic sense of the word, during the +twenty-five years of my active political life, as a journalist and a +member of the Quebec Legislature and of the Parliament of Canada, it +became my lot in the official position which I was asked to accept and +which I loyally filled, to all intents and purposes, for many years, to +train my mind more and more to judge public questions solely from the +point of view of the public good. I do not mean to say that partyism, +well understood and patriotically practiced, is not productive of good +to a country blessed with free institutions. But certainly in the course +of a progressive, intelligent and eventful national life, ennobled by +Freedom happily enjoyed, times occur when it behooves every one to rise +superior to all other considerations, however important they may be, to +serve the only one worthy of all sacrifices: the salvation of the +country. Never was this principle so true, so imperative, than on the +day when the world was so audaciously challenged by Germany to the +deadly conflict still raging with undiminished fury. + +That most important question of military obligatory service, brought up +by the pressure of the imperious necessities of military operations, +lengthening and intensifying to unforeseen proportions, was for many +weeks considered by Parliament. Surely, no one for a single moment +entertained the idea that, however desirable and imperative it was for +the representatives of the people to be of only one mind so far as the +prosecution of Canada's share in the war was concerned, constant +unanimity of opinion was possible respecting the various measures to be +adopted to that end. Parliament sitting in the performance of its +constitutional functions, with all its undoubted privileges, could not +be expected not to exercise its right to debate all the matters +constitutionally proposed for its concurrence and approval. I must +certainly and wisely refrain from any comment whatsoever upon the +lengthy discussion of the Military Service Act in both Houses in Ottawa. +Having received the Royal Assent, the Bill is now the law of the land. +All will patriotically rejoice to see that without waiving their right +to pronounce upon the deeds and the views of those who are responsible +to them, the free citizens of Canada will cheerfully accept the new +sacrifices imposed by the obligation of carrying the war to a successful +issue, praying to God to bless their patriotic efforts, and even with +the true Christian spirit, to forgive guilty Germany if she will only +repent for her crimes, and agree to repair a reasonable part of the +immense damages she has wrought upon trodden and martyred nations. + +I hope,--and most ardently wish--that all my readers will agree with me +that next to the necessity of winning the war--and, may I say, even as +of almost equal importance for the future grandeur of our beloved +country--range that of promoting by all lawful means harmony and good +will amongst all our countrymen, whatever may be their racial origin, +their religious faith, their particular aspirations not conflicting with +their devotion to Canada as a whole, nor with their loyalty to the +British Empire, whose greatness and prestige they want to firmly help to +uphold with the inspiring confidence that more and more they will be the +unconquerable bulwark of Freedom, Justice, Civilization and Right. + +After having so fully expressed my profound conviction of what I +consider to be my sacred duty as a loyal British subject, I feel sure I +will be allowed to ask my English-speaking countrymen not to judge my +French compatriots by the sayings and deeds of persons, too well gifted +and too prone to injure their future and that of the whole country +itself, but utterly disqualified and impotent to do them any good. + +Need I affirm that my French Canadian compatriots are loyal at heart, a +liberty loving and peaceful people, law-abiding citizens, fairly minded, +intelligent, hard working, industrious. They have done, they are doing, +and will do, their fair share for the progress and the future greatness +of our wide and mighty Dominion. To all those who desire to appreciate +their course in all fairness and Christian Justice, I will say: do not +fail to take into account that like all other national groups they are +liable, in overtrying circumstances, to be in a certain measure wrongly +influenced by deficiencies of leadership, but depend that they cannot +be, for any length of time, carried away by unscrupulous players on +their feelings. Some of them were deceived by persistent efforts to +persuade them that England was, as much as Germany, guilty of having +precipitated the great war which has been the curse of almost the whole +world for the last four years. The accumulated remembrance of their +staunch loyalty and patriotism during more than a century and a half +will do much to favour the harmonious relations of all Canadians of good +will who, I have no doubt, comprise millions of well wishers of the +glorious destiny of our country. + +May I be allowed to conclude by saying that my most earnest desire is to +do all in my power, in the rank and file of the great army of free men, +to reach the goal which ought to be the most persevering and patriotic +ambition of loyal Canadians of all origins and creeds. + +And I repeat, wishing my words to be reechoed throughout the length and +breadth of the land I so heartily cherish:--I have always been, I am and +will ever be, to my last breath, true to my oath of allegiance to my +Sovereign and to my country. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +WHO ARE THE GUILTY PARTIES? + + +Any one sincerely wishing to arrive at a sound opinion on the great war +raging for the last four years, must necessarily make a serious study of +the causes which led to the terrific struggle so horribly straining the +energies of the civilized world to escape tyrannical domination. The +case having been so fully discussed, and the responsibilities of the +assailant belligerents so completely proved, I surely need not show at +length that the German Emperor, his military party, the group of the +German population called JUNKERS, are to the highest degree, the guilty +parties of all the woful wrongs imposed upon Mankind and of the +bloodshed unprecedented in all the ages. + +The German Empire had for many years decided that it would not alone +attempt to dominate the world. It wanted a partner to share the +responsibility of the crime it was ready to commit at the first +favourable opportunity, but a docile partner which she could direct at +will, command with imperious orders, and crush without mercy at the +first move of resistance. That plying tool was found in the complicity +of Austria-Hungary, for years under the sway of Berlin diplomacy. + +No sane man, if he is sincere, if he is honest, can now, for a single +moment, hesitate to proclaim that between Germany and Austria-Hungary, +and the group of nations henceforth bearing the glorious name of THE +ALLIES, Right and Justice are on the side of England, of France, of the +United States, of Belgium, of Italy, of Canada. + +Where is the man with a sound mind, with a strong heart, beating with +the noble impulses of righteousness, with a soul dignified by lofty +aspirations, who ignores to-day that for fifty years previous to the +declaration of war, in August 1914, Germany had been perfecting her +military organization for a grand effort at universal domination? + +All my life a close student of History, I was much impressed by the +constant Policy of England to maintain Peace during the last century. +When the World emerged from the great wars of the Napoleonic Era, she +firmly took her stand in favour of peaceful relations between the +nations, trusting more and more for the future prosperity of them all to +the advantages to be derived from the permanency of friendly +intercourse, from the ever increasing development of international +trade, prompted by the freest possible exchanges of the products of all +the countries blessed by Providence with large and varied resources. Her +statesmen, so many of them truly worthy of this name, however divided +they may have been with regard to questions of domestic government and +internal reforms, were most united about the course to be followed +respecting foreign relations. Perhaps more than all others having a say +in the management of the world's affairs at large, they fully realized +that no nation could prosper and successfully work out her destinies by +systematically trying to injure her neighbours. No independent country +can become wealthier, happier, and greater, by spreading ruin and +devastation around her frontiers. + +The most convincing evidence that England was constantly favourable to +the maintenance of peace amongst the great Powers of the World, for the +last hundred years, is found in her permanent determination not to be +drawn into the vortex of European continental militarism, so powerfully +developed by Prussianism. She could have organized a standing army of +millions of men. She would not. True, during the few years which +preceded the present hurricane, some of the most eminent of England's +military officers, notably, foremost amongst them, Lord Roberts, seeing, +with their eyes wide open, the aggravated dangers accumulating on the +darkening horizon, warned their countrymen about the threatening waves +which menaced the future of the world. But British public opinion, as a +whole, would not depart from her almost traditional policy of +"_non-intervention_". For nearly a century, Great Britain maintained her +"_splendid isolation_", trusting to the sound sense which should always +govern the world to protect Mankind against the horrors of a general +war. Never was this great national policy better exemplified than during +the long and glorious reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. For more than +fifty years, she graced one of the most illustrious Thrones that ever +presided over the destinies of a great Empire, with sovereign dignity, +with womanly virtues, with motherly devotion, with patriotic respect of +the constitutional liberties of her free subjects. When she departed for +a better world, she was succeeded by the great King and Emperor--Edward +VII.--who, during the few years of his memorable reign, proved himself +so much the friendly supporter of harmony and good will amongst the +nations that he deserved to be called "THE KING OF THE PEACE OF THE +WORLD." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PERSISTENT EFFORTS OF ENGLAND IN FAVOUR OF PEACE. + + +In 1891, Lord Salisbury, then Prime Minister of England, witnessing the +constant progress of Prussian militarism on land and sea, and fully +conscious of the misfortunes it was preparing for Humanity, ordered an +official statement to be made of the extravagant cost of the European +military organization, and sent it confidentially to the German Kaiser, +who took no notice of it. + +In 1896, Lord Salisbury lays before the Czar of Russia all the +information he has obtained on the question of militarism in Europe. On +the 28th of August, 1898, the Emperor of Russia addressed to the world +his celebrated Manifesto in favour of peace. It urged, first, the +necessity of a truly permanent peace; second, the limitation of military +preparation which, in its ever increasing development, was causing the +economic ruin of the nations. + +The conferences of The Hague in favour of an international agreement for +the maintenance of peace were the direct result of the initiative of the +British Prime Minister, who foresaw the frightful consequences for +Humanity of the enormous development of militarism by the German +Empire. + +All the great Powers of Europe and America, together with the secondary +states, at once heartily concurred with the proposition of the Czar of +Russia. Unfortunately, there were two sad exceptions to the consent to +consider the salutary purpose so anxiously desired by those who valued +as they should all the benefits the world would have derived from an +international system assuring permanent peace. Germany and Austria, the +latter already for years dominated by the former, opposed the patriotic +move of the Emperor of Russia, suggested to him by Great Britain. They +agreed to be represented at the Conferences for the only object of +thwarting the efforts in favour of a satisfactory enactment of new rules +of International Law to henceforth protect the world against a general +conflagration, and to free the nations from the crushing burdens of a +militarism daily developing more extravagant. + +Ministerial changes in Great Britain in no way altered this part of the +foreign policy of the Mother Country. In 1905, Mr. Campbell-Bannerman +became Prime Minister of England. He was well known to be an ardent +pacifist. Deprecating the mad increase of unchecked militarism, he said, +in his ministerial program:-- + +"_A policy of huge armaments keeps alive and stimulates and feeds the +belief that force is the best, if not the only, solution of +international differences._" + +On the 8th of March, 1906, Lord Haldane, then Minister of War, declared +in the British House of Commons:-- + +"_I wish we were near the time when the nations would consider together +the reduction of armaments.... Only by united action can we get rid of +the burden which is pressing so heavily on all civilized nations._" + +The second Conference of The Hague which took place in July and October, +1907, was then being organized. Russia was again its official promoter. +Well aware of the uncompromising stand of Germany on the question of +reduced armaments, she had not included that matter in the program she +had decided to lay before the Conference. The British Government did all +they could to have it placed on the orders to be taken into +consideration. A member of the Labor Party, Mr. Vivian, moved in the +House of Commons, that the Conference of The Hague be called upon to +discuss that most important subject. His motion was unanimously and +enthusiastically carried. + +Informing the House that the Cabinet heartily approved the Resolution, +Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said:-- + +"_I do not believe that at any time has the conscious public opinion in +the various countries of Europe set more strongly in the direction of +peace than at the present time, and yet the burden of military and naval +expenditure goes on increasing. No greater service could it (the Hague +Conference) do, than to make the conditions of peace less expensive +than they are at the present time.... It is said we are waiting upon +foreign nations in order to reduce our expenditure. As a matter of fact, +we are all waiting on each other. Some day or other somebody must take +the first step.... I do, on behalf of the Government, not only accept, +but welcome such a resolution as this as a wholesome and beneficial +expression of opinion._" + +In July, 1906, a most important meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union +took place in London. Twenty-three countries, enjoying the privileges, +in various proportions, of free institutions, were represented at this +memorable Congress of Nations. In the course of his remarkable opening +speech of the first sitting, Mr. Campbell-Bannerman, Prime Minister, +said:-- + +"_Urge your Governments, in the name of humanity, to go into The Hague +Conference as we ourselves hope to go, pledged to diminished charges in +respect of armaments._" + +A motion embodying the views so earnestly pressed by the British +Government was unanimously carried. + +On the fifth of March, 1907, only four months before the opening of the +Second Hague Conference, Mr. Campbell-Bannerman, affirming the bounden +duty of England to propose the restriction of armaments, said, in the +British House of Commons:-- + +"_Holding the opinion that there is a great movement of feeling among +thinking people in all the nations of the world, in favor of some +restraint on the enormous expenditure involved in the present system so +long as it exists.... We have desired and still desire to place +ourselves in the very front rank of those who think that the warlike +attitude of powers, as displayed by the excessive growth of armaments is +a curse to Europe, and the sooner it is checked, in however moderate a +degree, the better._" + +Unfortunately, German hostility to reduced armaments prevented any good +result from the second Hague Conference in the way of checking +extravagant and ruinous military organization. There was sad +disappointment in all the reasonable world and specially in England at +this deplorable outcome. Mr. Campbell-Bannerman expressed it as +follows:-- + +"_We had hoped that some great advance might be made towards a common +consent to arrest the wasteful and growing competition in naval and +military armaments. We were disappointed._" + +Unshaken in her determination to do her utmost to protect Civilization +against the threatening and ever increasing dangers of German +militarism, England persisted with the most laudable perseverance in her +noble efforts to that much desired end. But all her pleadings, however +convincing, were vain. Germany was obdurate. Finally, on the 30th of +March, 1911, speaking in the Reichstag, the German Imperial Chancellor +threw off the mask, and positively declared that the question of +reduced armaments admitted of no possible solution "_as long as men were +men and States were States_." + +A more brutal declaration could hardly have been made. It was a cynical +challenge to the World. Times were maturing and Germany was anxiously +waiting for the opportunity to strike the blow which would stagger +Humanity. + +Through all the great crisis of July and August, 1914, directly +consequent upon the odious crime of Sarajevo, England exhausted all her +efforts to maintain peace, but unfortunately without avail. + +Knowing very well how much England sincerely wished the maintenance of +peace, the German Government was to the last moment under the delusion +that it could succeed in having Great Britain to remain neutral in a +general European war. They were not ashamed to presume they could bribe +England. Without blushing they made to the British Government the +infamous proposition contained in the following despatch from Sir E. +Goschen, the British Ambassador at Berlin, to Sir Edward Grey, the +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs:-- + + Sir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey (Received July 29). + Berlin, July 29, 1914. + (Telegraphic.) + + I was asked to call upon the Chancellor to-night. His Excellency + had just returned from Potsdam. + + He said that should Austria be attacked by Russia a European + conflagration might, he feared, become inevitable, owing to + Germany's obligation as Austria's ally, in spite of his + continued efforts to maintain peace. He then proceeded to make + the following strong bid for British neutrality. He said that it + was clear, so far as he was able to judge the main principle + which governed British policy, that Great Britain would never + stand by and allow France to be crushed in any conflict there + might be. That, however, was not the object at which Germany + aimed. Provided that neutrality of Great Britain was certain, + every assurance would be given to the British Government that + the Imperial Government aimed at no territorial acquisitions at + the expense of France should they prove victorious in any war + that might ensue. + + I questioned his Excellency about the French colonies, and he + said he was unable to give a similar undertaking in that + respect. As regards Holland, however, his Excellency said that, + so long as Germany's adversaries respected the integrity and + neutrality of the Netherlands, Germany was ready to give His + Majesty's Government an assurance that she would do likewise. It + depended upon the action of France what operations Germany might + be forced to enter upon in Belgium, but when the war was over, + Belgian integrity would be respected if she had not sided + against Germany. + + His Excellency ended by saying that ever since he had been + Chancellor the object of his policy had been, as you were aware, + to bring about an understanding with England; he trusted that + these assurances might form the basis of that understanding + which he so much desired. He had in mind a general neutrality + agreement between England and Germany, though it was of course + at the present moment too early to discuss details, and an + assurance of British neutrality in the conflict which present + crisis might possibly produce, would enable him to look forward + to realisation of his desire. + + In reply to his Excellency's inquiry how I thought his request + would appeal to you, I said that I did not think it probable + that at this stage of events you would care to bind yourself to + any course of action and that I was of opinion that you would + desire to retain full liberty. + + Our conversation upon this subject having come to an end, I + communicated the contents of your telegram of to-day to his + Excellency, who expressed his best thanks to you. + +To the foregoing outrageous proposition, the Government of Great Britain +gave the proud and noble reply which follows, for all times to be +recorded in diplomatic annals to the eternal honour and glory of the +Ministers who incurred the responsibility of, and of the distinguished +diplomat who drafted, that memorable document:-- + + Sir Edward Grey to Sir E. Goschen. + (Telegraphic.) + Foreign Office, July 30, 1914. + Your telegram of 29th July. + + His Majesty's Government cannot for a moment entertain the + Chancellor's proposal that they should bind themselves to + neutrality on such terms. + + What he asks us in effect is to engage to stand by while French + colonies are taken and France is beaten so long as Germany does + not take French territory as distinct from the colonies. + + From the material point of view such a proposal is unacceptable, + for France, without further territory in Europe being taken from + her, could be so crushed as to lose her position as a Great + Power, and become subordinate to German policy. + + Altogether, apart from that, it would be a disgrace for us to + make this bargain with Germany at the expense of France, a + disgrace from which the good name of this country would never + recover. + + The Chancellor also in effect asks us to bargain away whatever + obligation or interest we have as regards the neutrality of + Belgium. We could not entertain that bargain either. + + Having said so much, it is unnecessary to examine whether the + prospect of a future general neutrality agreement between + England and Germany offered positive advantages sufficient to + compensate us for tying our hands now. We must preserve our full + freedom to act as circumstances may seem to us to require in any + such unfavourable and regrettable development of the present + crisis as the Chancellor contemplates. + + You should speak to the Chancellor in the above sense, and add + most earnestly that the only way of maintaining the good + relations between England and Germany is that they should + continue to work together to preserve the peace of Europe; if we + succeed in this object, the mutual relations of Germany and + England will, I believe, be =ipso facto= improved and + strengthened. For that object His Majesty's Government will work + in that way with all sincerity and good-will. + + And I will say this: if the peace of Europe can be preserved, + and the present crisis safely passed, my own endeavour will be + to promote some arrangement to which Germany will be a party, by + which she could be assured that no aggressive or hostile policy + would be pursued against her or her allies by France, Russia, + and ourselves, jointly or separately. I have desired this and + worked for it, as far as I could, through the last Balkan + crisis, and, Germany having a corresponding object, our + relations sensibly improved. The idea has hitherto been too + Utopian to form the subject of definite proposals, but if this + present crisis, so much more acute than any that Europe has gone + through for generations, be safely passed, I am hopeful that the + relief and reaction which will follow may make possible some + more definite rapprochement between the Powers than has been + possible hitherto. + +The British Government could not take a more dignified stand and express +their indignation at the infamous proposal in stronger and more noble +terms. + +Let us now read the indignant protest of Mr. Asquith, the British Prime +Minister, against the outrageous German proposition, addressed to the +House of Commons, where it raised a storm of applause, proclaiming to +the World the dogged determination of England to wage war rather than +agree to the dishonourable German proposal:-- + + What does that amount to? Let me just ask the House. I do so, + not with the object of inflaming passion, certainly not with the + object of exciting feeling against Germany, but I do so to + vindicate and make clear the position of the British Government + in this matter. What did that proposal amount to? In the first + place, it meant this: That behind the back of France--they were + not made a party to these communications--we should have given, + if we had assented to that, a free license to Germany to annex, + in the event of a successful war, the whole of the extra + European dominions and possessions of France. What did it mean + as regards Belgium? When she addressed, as she has addressed in + the last few days, her moving appeal to us to fulfil our solemn + guarantee of her neutrality, what reply should we have given? + What reply should we have given to that Belgian appeal? We + should have been obliged to say that without her knowledge we + had bartered away to the Power threatening her our obligation to + keep our plighted word. The House has read, and the country has + read, of course, in the last few hours, the most pathetic appeal + addressed by the King of Belgium, and I do not envy the man who + can read that appeal with an unmoved heart. Belgians are + fighting and losing their lives. What would have been the + position of Great Britain to-day in the face of that spectacle + if we had assented to this infamous proposal? Yes, and what are + we to get in return for the betrayal of our friends and the + dishonour of our obligations? What are we to get in return? A + promise--nothing more; a promise as to what Germany would do in + certain eventualities; a promise, be it observed--I am sorry to + say it, but it must be put upon record--given by a Power which + was at that very moment announcing its intention to violate its + own treaty, and inviting us to do the same. I can only say, if + we had dallied or temporized, we, as a Government, should have + covered ourselves with dishonour, and we should have betrayed + the interests of this country, of which we are trustees. + +After quoting and eulogizing the telegraphic despatch of Sir Edward Grey +to Sir E. Goschen, dated July 30, 1914, Mr. Asquith proceeded as +follows:-- + + That document, in my opinion, states clearly, in temperate and + convincing language, the attitude of this Government. Can any + one who reads it fail to appreciate the tone of obvious + sincerity and earnestness which underlies it; can any one + honestly doubt that the Government of this country in spite of + great provocation--and I regard the proposals made to us as + proposals which we might have thrown aside without consideration + and almost without answer--can any one doubt that in spite of + great provocation the right hon. gentleman, who had already + earned the title--and no one ever more deserved it--of Peace + Maker of Europe, persisted to the very last moment of the last + hour in that beneficent but unhappily frustrated purpose. I am + entitled to say, and I do so on behalf of this country--I speak + not for a party, I speak for the country as a whole--that we + made every effort any Government could possibly make for peace. + But this war has been forced upon us. What is it we are + fighting for? Every one knows, and no one knows better than the + Government the terrible incalculable suffering, economic, + social, personal and political, which war, and especially a war + between the Great Powers of the world must entail. There is no + man amongst us sitting upon this bench in these trying + days--more trying perhaps than any body of statesmen for a + hundred years have had to pass through, there is not a man + amongst us who has not, during the whole of that time, had + clearly before his vision the almost unequalled suffering which + war, even in just cause, must bring about, not only to the + peoples who are for the moment living in this country and in the + other countries of the world, but to posterity and to the whole + prospects of European civilization. Every step we took with that + vision before our eyes, and with a sense of responsibility which + it is impossible to describe. Unhappily, if in spite of all our + efforts to keep the peace, and with that full and overpowering + consciousness of the result, if the issue be decided in favour + of war, we have, nevertheless, thought it to be the duty as well + as the interest of this country to go to war, the House may be + well assured it was because we believe, and I am certain the + Country will believe, we are unsheathing our sword in a just + cause. + + If I am asked what we are fighting for I reply in two sentences. + In the first place to fulfil a solemn international obligation, + an obligation which, if it had been entered into between private + persons in the ordinary concerns of life, would have been + regarded as an obligation not only of law but of honour, which + no self-respecting man could possibly have repudiated. I say, + secondly, we are fighting to vindicate the principle which, in + these days when force, material force, sometimes seems to be the + dominant influence and factor in the development of mankind, we + are fighting to vindicate the principle that small nationalities + are not to be crushed, in defiance of international good faith, + by the military will of a strong and overmastering Power. I do + not believe any nation ever entered into a great + controversy--and this is one of the greatest history will ever + know--with a clearer conscience and stronger conviction that it + is fighting, not for aggression, not for the maintenance even of + its own selfish interest, but that it is fighting in defence of + principles, the maintenance of which is vital to the + civilisation of the world. With a full conviction, not only of + the wisdom and justice, but of the obligations which lay upon us + to challenge this great issue, we are entering into the + struggle. + +The German Government refusing to order their army to retire from the +Belgian territory it had violated, at midnight, 4th to 5th August, 1914, +the whole British Empire was at war with the whole German Empire. + +Surely, there is not the slightest necessity to argue any more that in +the terrific war raging for the last four years, Justice and Right are +on the side of England and her Allies. No war was ever more just, waged +with equal honour for the triumph of Liberty and Civilization, for the +protection of Humanity against the onslaught of barbarism developed to +the cruelty of the darkest ages of History. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE CALL TO DUTY IN CANADA. + + +Every one knows how the news of the State of War between the British and +German Empires were received in our great Canadian Dominion, after the +days of anxious waiting which culminated in the rallying of England to +the defence of the cause of Freedom and Civilization. When the call for +duty was sounded in the Capital of the British Empire, it rolled over +the mighty Atlantic, spreading over the length and breadth of Canada, +being re-echoed with force in our Province of Quebec. + +At once called to prepare for the emergency, the Canadian Parliament met +and unanimously decided that the Dominion would, of her own free will +and patriotic decision, participate in the Great War. The course of +events in Canada, for the last four years, is well known by all. It is +recent history. + +My special object in condensing in this book the defence which I +considered it my duty to make of the just and sacred cause of the +British Empire, and her Allies, in the great war still raging with +undiminished fury, being to show how I did, to the best of my ability, +try to persuade my French Canadian Countrymen where was the true path +of duty, and how false and disloyal were the unscrupulous theories of +"Nationalism", I must first review the successive movements of public +opinion in the Province of Quebec. + +In the preceding sentence, I have intently affirmed that the cause of +the Allies was that of the whole British Empire. Surely, it should not +be necessary to say so, as no truly loyal British subject would for a +moment hesitate to come to that patriotic conclusion. Still, however +incredible it is, the duty of the British colonies to rally to the flag +to defend the Empire and participate in the deadly struggle between +Civilization and barbarism, was challenged by the leaders of the +"Nationalist school" in the Province of Quebec. Of course, that school +never represented more than a small minority of thought and numbers. +But, sad to admit, a fanatical minority, in days of trying sacrifices, +can do a great deal of injury to a people by inflaming national and +religious prejudices. We, French Canadians, have had much to suffer from +the unpatriotic efforts of a few to bring our countrymen to take an +erroneous view of the situation. + +At the opening of the war, the general opinion in the Province of Quebec +was without doubt strongly in favor of Canada's participation in the +struggle. Any student of the working of our constitutional system knows +how the strength of public opinion is ascertained, outside of a general +election, in all cases, and more specially with regard to measures of +paramount importance when the country has to deal with a national +emergency. + +The Parliament of Canada is the authorized representative of the +Country. Called in a special session, at the very outbreak of the +hostilities, they voted unanimously that it was our duty to participate +in the war. All the representatives of the Province of Quebec heartily +joined with those of all the other Provinces to vote this unanimous +decision. + +In the light of events ever since, who can now reasonably pretend that +the patriotic decision of the Parliament of Canada was not entirely, +even enthusiastically, approved by the Canadian people? The press, even +in the Province of Quebec, with only one exception of any consequence, +was unanimous in its approval of the action of Parliament. + +The heads of our Church, the Archbishops and Bishops of the +Ecclesiastical Provinces of Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa, in their very +important Pastoral Letter on the duties of the Catholics in the present +war, positively said:-- + +"_We must acknowledge it--(nous ne saurions nous le dissimuler--): that +conflict, one of the most terrific the world has yet seen, cannot but +have its repercussion in our country. England is engaged into it, and +who does not see that the fate of all the component parts of the Empire +is bound with the fate of her arms. She relies upon our support, and +that support, we are happy to say, has been generously offered to her +both in men and money._" + +No representative of public opinion, of any weight, outside of +Parliament, professional men, leaders of finance, commerce and industry, +in the Province of Quebec, raised a word of disapproval at the +Parliamentary call to arms. + +Not one meeting was called, not one resolution was moved, to oppose the +decision of the Canadian Parliament. + +Not one petition was addressed to the two Houses in Ottawa against +Canada's participation in the war. + +Every one in the Province of Quebec knew that participating in the war +would entail heavy financial sacrifices, and that the taxation of the +country would have to be largely increased to meet the new obligations +we had freely decided to incur for the salvation of the Empire and of +Civilization. + +The Government of the day proposed the financial measures they +considered necessary to raise the public revenue which the circumstances +required. Those measures were unanimously approved by Parliament. The +taxpayers of the country, those of the Province of Quebec like all the +others, willingly and patriotically accepted and paid without complaint +the new taxes into the public treasury. During more than the three first +years of the war, I visited a good part of the Province of Quebec, and +addressed several large public meetings. Everywhere my attention was +forcibly struck by the prompt willingness of my French Canadian +countrymen to bear their share of the financial sacrifices Canada was +called upon to make for the triumph of the cause of the Allies. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +RECRUITING BY VOLUNTARY SERVICE. + + +No stronger evidence could be given of the determination of the country +as a whole, and over all its component parts, to support Great Britain +and her Allies to final success, than the truly wonderful record of the +voluntary enlistment of more than four hundred thousand men, of all +walks in life, to rush to the front. + +Recruiting in the Province of Quebec indeed started very well. Several +thousands of French Canadian youth rallied to the colors. I hope and +trust that, sooner or later, it will be possible to make a more +satisfactory statistical record of the number of French Canadians who +enlisted. I am fully convinced that the total is somewhat much larger +than the figures usually quoted. It would surely be conducive to a +better understanding of the case, if such statistical information was +carefully prepared and made public. It is easily conceivable that the +pressure of the work of maintaining the splendid Canadian army renders +it perhaps difficult to attend actually to the details of that +compilation. So we can afford to wait for the redress of figures which +may constitute a wrong to the race second in numbers but equal to any in +patriotism in Canada. + +Pending my remarks upon certain causes which have contributed to check +recruiting amongst the French element in the Province of Quebec, I +consider it important to mention those which were easy to ascertain and +comprehend. + +It is a well known fact that early marriages are a rule in the Province +of Quebec much more than in the other Provinces of the Dominion. As a +natural consequence, the available number of young unmarried men for +recruiting purposes was proportionately less. I myself have known +parishes in our Province where half a dozen of unmarried young men from +twenty years of age and upwards could not be found. + +It was easily to foresee that a comparison would be made between the +number of Canadian-born volunteers in the English-speaking Provinces and +that from the Province of Quebec. The degree of enthusiasm for +enlistment in the other Provinces between the foreign born and the +Canadian born has also been noticed. It has generally been admitted that +most naturally the young men recently arrived in Canada were more +strongly appealed to by all the sacred ties still binding them to their +mother land. When generations have, for more than a century, enjoyed all +the blessings of peace and lived far away from the turmoil of warlike +preparations and military conflicts, is it to be much wondered at that +the entire population is not at once permeated with the feeling of the +dangers ahead, and do not rise rapidly to the full sense of the duty she +is suddenly called upon to perform. + +My daily personal intercourse with hundreds of my French Canadian +compatriots allowed me to realize that many of them, even amongst the +leading classes, were over-confident that the Allies representing at the +beginning the united effort of England, France and Russia, soon to be +reinforced by Italy, breaking away from the Central Powers, would +certainly be equal to the task of being victorious over German +militarism. Repeatedly, before public meetings and in very numerous +private conversations, I urgently implored my hearers not to be so +deluded, doing my best to convince them that it would be a fatal error +to shut our eyes from the truth, that the military power of Central +Europe, comprising the two great Empires of Germany and Austria, +Bulgaria, with the help of Asiatic Turkey, and the undisguised support +of baneful teutonic influences and intrigues at the courts of Petrograd +and Athens, was gigantic, and that the terrible conflict would surely +develop into a struggle for life and death between human freedom and +barbarism. + +This feeling of over-confidence was passing away, when it became evident +that to triumph over the modern huns and their associates was no easy +task; that the goal of freeing humanity from the threatening universal +domination would require the most determined effort of the nations who +had heroically undertaken to reach it. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +INTERVENTION OF NATIONALISM. + + +The great struggle being waged with increased intensity, it was daily +becoming more and more evident that the Allied nations were bound to +muster all their courage, perseverance and resources to successfully +fight their determined foe. It was just at the thick of this critical +situation, calling forth the devotion and patriotism of all, that the +"Nationalist" campaign of false theories and principles was launched +with renewed activity in the Province of Quebec. + +Mr. Henri Bourassa, ex-member of Labelle in the House of Commons, was, +and still is, the recognized leader of the "Nationalist School" in our +Province, and wherever it finds adherents. His personal organ, "_Le +Devoir_," is daily expounding the doctrines of that School. + +In October, 1915, Mr. Bourassa issued a pamphlet of over four hundred +pages entitled:--"_What do we owe England?_"--in French:--"_Que +devons-nous à l'Angleterre?_" + +In the long overdrawn and farfetched argumentation of this volume, the +author's effort is to try and prove that Canada owes nothing to England, +that all those who favour the Canadian participation in the war are +"revolutionists," that we are unduly paying a large tribute to the +Empire. + +In 1916, Mr. Bourassa supplemented his first book with a second +pamphlet, entitled:--"_Yesterday, To-day, To-morrow_," in +French:--"_Hier, Aujourd'hui, Demain_," in which he amplified the views +expressed in the preceding volume. + +I undertook to read Mr. Bourassa's works, and I must say that I was +astonished at what I found therein. I felt very strongly that his +erroneous views--without questioning their sincerity--were bound to +pervert the opinion of my French compatriots, to enflame their +prejudices, and to do a great deal of harm in promoting the ever +dangerous conflict of race fanaticism. Over forty years of experience of +public life had taught me how easy it is to introduce a prejudice in a +man's mind, but how difficult it is to destroy it when once it has taken +root. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WHAT DO WE OWE ENGLAND? + + +To this question raised by Mr. Bourassa, and argued at length by himself +in the negative, I answered by a chapter of my book:--"_L'Angleterre, le +Canada et la Grand Guerre_"--"_England, Canada and the Great War_." + +Great Britain, ever since she came to the conclusion that the days of +the old colonial policy were passed, and agreed that we should freely +govern ourselves, with ministerial responsibility, within the powers set +forth in our constitutional charter, has scrupulously respected our +political liberty. We have administered our own affairs at our own free +will. The Imperial Government never attempted to interfere with the +development of our federal politics. They would surely have declined +such interference, if it had been asked for. + +As long as we form part of the British Empire, it is evident that we owe +to England that loyalty which every colony owes to her mother-country. +Granted by the Sovereign Power ruling Canada the freest institutions, +having the best of reasons to be fully satisfied with our relations with +Great Britain, we are in duty bound to be loyal to her flag. We must be +true to our allegiance. + +We have freely decided to incur the sacrifices we are making for the +war. We have so decided because we considered it of the greatest +importance, for the future of Humanity, that the German ambition for +universal domination be foiled; that the British Empire be maintained; +that France should continue a first class Power, as expressed by Mr. +Asquith; that before all, and above all, the eternal principles of +Right, Justice and Civilization, shall not be trampled upon by the +terrific assault of teutonic barbarism. Moreover, we are also in duty +bound to judge with fairness England's part in the great society of +nations, and, especially, that she plays in the great events of the +present crisis. Beyond doubt, a truly loyal Canadian must refrain from +poisoning foreign opinion and that of his fellow British subjects +against Great Britain in attributing her course to selfish interests, +wilfully taking no account of her broad and admirable foreign policy, +ever inspired by the steady desire to maintain peace. + +In the first mentioned work, Mr. Bourassa lays great stress on the fact +that for nearly a century and a half, previous to the South African War, +Canada did not participate in the wars of the Empire. He extensively +quotes from the documents and the discussions between Canada's +representatives and the Imperial Government, respecting the defence of +our country, and that of the Empire herself. He concludes by pretending +that the result of all these negotiations and conventions was the +agreement that Canada would have only to attend to her own defence, and +that Great Britain was always obliged to protect us against all outside +attacks. From these pretensions he draws the startling conclusion that +all those who do not stand by the conventions he did his best to +emphasize are doing revolutionary work. + +The answer to such extravagant notions is rather plain and easy. There +was not the slightest necessity for the Nationalist leader to multiply +lengthy quotations to prove what mere common sense settles at first +thought:-- + +First:--That any country, whether it be independent or a colony, must +defend itself when attacked by an enemy. + +Second:--That a Sovereign State is bound to defend all the territory +under its authority and covered by its flag. + +But all this has nothing whatever to do with the very different question +of Canada's participation, outside her own territory, in a war in which +Great Britain is engaged, which participation Canada has freely, +deliberately approved and ordered. Such was the case in 1914. The +Parliament and the people of Canada at once realized that in the +gigantic conflict into which Germany had drawn all the Great Powers of +Europe, our future destiny as much as that of England herself was at +stake. Without the slightest hesitation, unasked and unsolicited by the +Mother Country, we decided that we were in duty bound to do our share +to defend the great Empire of which we are a very important component +part, and to help saving the world from tyrannical domination. + +Much too often giving to words a meaning which they positively cannot +convey, Mr. Bourassa argued at length to prove that the agreements, +conventions, and understandings arrived at between the Imperial and +Canadian Governments, at different dates, were a _solemn treaty_. + +How false and untenable such a pretention is, surely needs no lengthy +argument. International Law knows no treaties but those made between +Sovereign States. It is most absurd to pretend that a Sovereign State +can make a treaty between herself and its own colony. Where is the man +with the slightest notion of Constitutional Government who would +pretend, for instance, that the British North American Act is a treaty +between Great Britain and Canada. It is an Act passed by the Legislative +authority of the Sovereign State to which we belong, enacting the +conditions under which Canada would enjoy the rights and privileges of +constitutional self-government, participating in the exercise of +Sovereignty within the limits of the powers enumerated in the Act +creating the Dominion. It was precisely because we knew we were acting +within the limits of those powers, that we decided to join with England +and her Allies in the great war. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CANADA IS NOT A SOVEREIGN STATE. + + +As long as Canada will remain under the flag of Great Britain--and for +one I hope it will yet be for many long years,--it is evident that it +will not be a "_Sovereign State_" in the full sense of the word. + +One can hardly believe that the Nationalist leader, at page 17 of his +pamphlet--"_Hier, Aujourd'hui, Demain_"--"_Yesterday, To-day, +To-morrow_," opens a chapter with the title: "_Les Colonies autonomes +sont des Etats Souverains._"--"_The autonomous colonies are Sovereign +States._" + +Mr. Bourassa was evidently led to the grievous error contained in the +preceding title by a complete misapprehension of the true meaning of the +word "_autonomous_." He took "_autonomy_" for "_Sovereignty_," being +under the delusion that the two are synonymous. + +Any student of History knows, or ought to know, that after the war which +culminated in the independence of the United States, England adopted an +entirely new colonial policy. She was the first Sovereign Power, and has +ever since remained the only one, to realize that the old system was +doomed to failure, that it was worn out. Her leading statesmen, who +always ranked amongst the most eminent the world over, were more and +more convinced that the only safe colonial policy was that which would +grant "_self-government_" to the colonies, trained to its harmonious +working, for their interior management. The true meaning of this new +policy was that several of the colonies were, by acts of the Imperial +Parliament, called to the exercise of a share of the Sovereignty, well +defined in their respective constitutional charters. Canada was one of +the first British colonies to enjoy the advantages of such a large part +of the Sovereign rights. + +Such "_autonomous colonies_" as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South +Africa, Newfoundland, have been, and are to the present day, do not +transform them into "_Sovereign States_," enjoying full "Sovereign +powers." They are not "_Independent States_" in the full sense of the +word. + +That Canada is not a Sovereign State is proved beyond doubt by the very +fact that she could not amend or change her constitutional charter by +her own power and without a new Imperial law. If the Nationalist +leader's pretention was sound, any member of the House of Commons, or of +the Senate, in Ottawa, could propose a bill to repeal the British North +America Act, 1867, and to replace it by another constitutional charter. +The very supposition is absurd. Can it be imagined that His Excellency +the Governor-General could be advised by his responsible Ministers to +sanction, in the name of His Majesty the Sovereign of Great Britain, a +bill repealing an Act of the Imperial Parliament? Still it is exactly +what Mr. Bourassa's theory amounts to. + +Our constitutional charter does not only provide what is called our +Federal,--or National--autonomy, but also the Provincial autonomy. The +powers of both are well defined in the Imperial Act. The Provinces of +the Dominion also exercise that share of the Sovereign rights delegated +to them by the Imperial Parliament. Would the Nationalist leader draw +the extravagant conclusion that the territory of any one of the +Provinces cannot be declared in the "State of War" with a Foreign Power, +by His Majesty the King, without the assent of the Ministers of that +Province? Still that absurd proposition would not be more so than that +affirming the necessity of the assent of the Canadian Cabinet, to a +declaration of War involving Canada in an Imperial struggle. + +The Sovereign right of declaring war to, and of making peace with, +another independent State, is vested in the King of Great Britain, +acting upon the advice of his responsible Ministers in the United +Kingdom. To the Imperial Parliament belongs the constitutional authority +to deal with the Imperial Foreign Affairs. + +It is plain that when Great Britain is at War with another Sovereign +State the whole territory of the British Empire is in the "State of War" +with that Nation. + +It is inconceivable that Mr. Bourassa has seriously pretended that +Canada was not at war with the German Empire the very moment the British +Empire was so in consequence of the violation by Germany of Belgian +neutrality. One can hardly believe that he has propounded the fallacious +constitutional doctrine that His Majesty "_the King of England hath not +the right to declare Canada in the State of War without the assent of +the Canadian Cabinet_." + +Where and when has the Nationalist leader discovered that the Canadian +Ministers have the right to advise His Majesty upon all the questions +pertaining to the Imperial Foreign Affairs? Any one conversant with the +constitutional status of Canada knows that the Canadian Ministers have +the right to advise the representative of the Sovereign only upon +matters as defined by the British North America Act, 1867, and its +amendments. + +I was indeed very much surprised at the attempt of Mr. Bourassa to use +the authority of Sir Erskine May in support of his erroneous pretension +that the autonomous colonies of Great Britain were Sovereign States. + +To all the students of the Constitutional History of England, Sir +Erskine May is a very well known and appreciated writer. I have read his +works several times over for many years. I was certain that he had never +written anything to justify the Nationalist leader in quoting him as he +did. + +Here follows the paragraph of May's Constitutional History quoted by Mr. +Bourassa in support of his own views:-- + + Parliament has recently pronounced it to be just that the + Colonies which enjoy self-government, should undertake the + responsibility and cost of their own military defence. To carry + this policy into effect must be the work of time. But whenever + it may be effected, the last material bond of connection with + the Colonies will have been severed, and colonial states, + acknowledging the honorary sovereignty of England, and fully + armed for self-defence, as well against herself as others, will + have grown out of the dependencies of the British Empire. + +I must say that I am absolutely unable to detect one single word in the +above quotation to authorize Mr. Bourassa to affirm that Sir Erskine May +was of opinion that "_the autonomous colonies were Sovereign States_." +The true meaning of the above extract is surely very plain. What does it +say? It declares, what was a fact, that the British _Parliament has +recently pronounced it to be just that the Colonies which enjoy +self-government should undertake the responsibility and cost of their +own military defence_. + +Would the British Parliament have deemed it necessary to express such an +opinion, if the Colonies had, then, been Sovereign States, consequently +obliged, in duty bound, to defend themselves _alone_ against any +possible enemy. Surely not, for the obvious reason that Great Britain +would have had no more responsibility for the defence of territories no +longer covered by her flag and under her Sovereignty. + +The very fact that the British Parliament thought proper, _under the +then circumstances_, to say that the Colonies enjoying self-government +should undertake to defend themselves, is the convincing proof that they +were not Sovereign States. + +The following sentence of May's quotation says:--_To carry this policy +into effect must be the work of time_. + +It is clear that the _policy_ requiring the work of time to be carried +into effect was not actually existent at the time Sir Erskine May was +writing. + +The extract quoted by Mr. Bourassa concludes by declaring that when such +a policy _has_ been finally adopted, the Colonies will have developed +into Colonial States having _grown out of the dependencies of the +British Empire_. + +Evidently, when the Dominions of Canada, Australia, South Africa, New +Zealand, will have grown out of the dependencies of the British Empire, +they will no longer be Colonies of Great Britain. But when will that +very important event take place? Surely, Sir Erskine May could not +foresee. Even to-day Mr. Bourassa cannot say more than any one else. +Pending that unforeseen outcome, the Dominions will remain parts of the +British Empire under her Sovereignty. + +The above quotation was taken by Mr. Bourassa from the edition of Sir +Erskine May's "Constitutional History" published in 1912. But they were +first edited by the author in 1863. When has the Imperial Parliament +adopted the above mentioned "_Resolution_"? It was voted in 1862--the +4th of March--more than fifty-six years ago. Quoted as it has been by +Mr. Bourassa, it appears to have been only very recently adopted. The +fact that it is more than half a century old, and was carried before the +Federal Union of the Provinces, is a convincing proof that it has no +bearing whatever upon the conditions of Canada's present colonial +status. By the aforesaid "_Resolution_," the British House of Commons +was only expressing the opinion that the time had come for the Colonies +to undertake the responsibility and the cost of their defence. The +"Resolution" does not say that Great Britain would no longer be called, +in the exercise of the rights and duties of her Sovereignty, to defend +her Colonial Empire. + +By what reasoning can a mere expression of opinion by the English House +of Commons be interpreted as at once transforming the Colonies into +independent Sovereign States? + +Any one somewhat conversant with the political events that led to the +Federal Union of the Provinces knows that in applying to the British +Parliament for the new Constitutional Charter, the Legislature of United +Canada had a twofold object:--first, the settlement of the +constitutional difficulties then pending between Upper and Lower Canada; +secondly, a broader development of Canada and also of the British +Empire. Such was the purpose of the coalition government formed in 1864. +All the members of that Cabinet were strongly in favour of the +maintenance of Canada's union with Great Britain. I have heard them +expounding their views on what the future of Canada ought to be. I am +positive that neither Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Georges Cartier, the +honorable Georges Brown, nor any of their colleagues, of both political +parties, ever said a word which could be construed as expressing the +opinion that the proposed Federal Union would make of Canada an +independent Sovereign State. It is incredible that Mr. Bourassa should +have so erroneously understood their real views so as to pretend that +they favoured Confederation for that very purpose. + +As a proof of his pretension, he quoted the following words of Sir John +A. Macdonald, in the Legislative Assembly of old United Canada:-- + +"_With us the Sovereign, or, in this country the representative of the +Sovereign, can act only on the advice of His Ministers, those Ministers +being responsible to the people through Parliament._" + +Mr. Bourassa used the foregoing sentence in support of his contention +that the King of England could not declare war without the assent of the +Canadian Cabinet. It is impossible to understand how such a notion can +be seriously held and expressed. His Majesty cannot ask nor accept such +an advice, if it was tendered, for the very reason that the Canadian +Cabinet has not the constitutional right to advise the King respecting +the international relations of the Empire. And why? Precisely because +the Canadian Ministers would not be responsible for their advice to the +Imperial Parliament and to the electorate of the United Kingdom. + +The true meaning of the above quoted sentence of Sir John A. Macdonald +is very plain. Ministerial responsibility was the fundamental principle +of the old Constitution, as it is of the Federal Charter. Sir John A. +Macdonald was perfectly right in affirming that "_in Canada, as in +England, the Sovereign could act only on the advice of His Ministers," +that is to say on the advice of His responsible Ministers within the +constitutional powers of our Parliament on all matters respecting which +they had the constitutional right to advise His Majesty_. + +Sir John A. Macdonald never said--he could not possibly say--that as +Prime Minister of Canada, under the new Constitution, he would have the +right to advise the Sovereign on all matters within the exclusive +constitutional jurisdiction of the Imperial Parliament, for instance +respecting the exercise of the Royal prerogative of declaring war +against, or of making peace with, a foreign independent State. He has +never propounded such an utterly false constitutional doctrine. + +Mr. Bourassa went still further. He quoted the following sentence from +Sir John A. Macdonald:--"_We stand with regard to the people of Canada +precisely in the same position as the House of Commons in England stands +with regard to the people of England_." + +I was indeed most astonished to read Mr. Bourassa's inference from those +words that Sir John A. Macdonald _had affirmed the absolute equality of +powers of the Imperial and the Canadian Parliaments_. + +If the opinion expressed by Sir John A. Macdonald could be so +interpreted, he would have affirmed--what was radically wrong--that +under the new Constitution, the Canadian Parliament would have, +_concurrently with the Imperial Parliament_, absolutely the same powers. +What did that mean? It meant that the Canadian Parliament, just as the +Imperial Parliament, would have the right to edict laws establishing +Home Rule in Ireland, regulating the government of India and the Crown +Colonies, granting constitutional charters for the good government of +the Australian and South African Dominions, &c., &c. + +Surely it is not necessary to argue at any length to prove that Sir John +A. Macdonald never for a moment entertained such an opinion. What he +really said, in the above quoted words, was that within their +constitutional jurisdiction, within the limits of their respective +powers, the two Parliaments stood in the same position, _respectively_, +with regard to the people of England and to the people of Canada. It was +equivalent to saying--what was positively true--that the British +Ministers and the British Parliament were responsible to the people of +England, and that the Canadian Ministers and the Canadian Parliament +were responsible to the people of Canada,--both of them within the +limits of their respective constitutional powers. + +If the Canadian Legislature had enjoyed all the constitutional powers of +the British Parliament, she would not have been obliged to pass +addresses asking the latter to enact a new charter creating the Federal +Union of the Provinces. She could have repealed her then existing +constitution and enacted the new one by her own authority. But that she +could not do. She could not repeal the old, nor enact the new charter. + +But the most extraordinary is that Mr. Bourassa went so far as to +declare that Canada should have participated in the present war only as +a "_Nation_," meaning, of course, as an independent Sovereign State. + +On reading such a preposterous proposition, at once it strikes one's +mind most forcibly that if Canada had really had the power to intervene +in the world's struggle as a "Nation," she would have had the equal +right to the choice of three alternatives. + +First:--Declare war against Germany and in favor of the Allies. + +Second:--Remain neutral. + +Third:--Declare war against Great Britain and fight for Germany. + +For it is obvious that all the Sovereign States--and Canada like them +all if she had been one of them--had the Sovereign Right to fight for or +against Great Britain, or to remain neutral. Of course, I am merely +explaining in its entirety the Right of a Sovereign State. I surely do +not mean to say that Canada, had she really been such a State, would in +any way have been justifiable in joining with Germany in her dastardly +attempt to crush Civilization in the barbarous throes of her domination. + +What would His Excellency the Governor-General have answered his Prime +Minister advising him to declare war against England, he who represents +His Majesty at Ottawa? Would he not have told him at once that the +Canadian Prime Minister had no right whatever to give him such an +advice; that Canada, being a British Colony, could not declare war +against her Sovereign State; that for the Canadian people to take up +arms against England would be treasonable revolt? + +It is absolutely incredible that a public man, aspiring to the +leadership of his countrymen, can have been so completely lost to the +sense of the Canadian constitutional situation as to boldly attempt to +pervert their mind with such fallacious notions. He might as well +pretend that the State of New York, for instance, has the Sovereign +Right to declare war against the Government of the United States. + +I, for one, cannot help wondering that any one can seriously think that +a colony, always pretending to remain loyally so, can wage war against +her Sovereign State. I feel sure that all sensible men do share my views +on that point. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +GERMAN ILLUSIONS. + + +When Germany threw the gauntlet to the Powers of the "Entente," she +labored under the delusion that the war would most surely break down the +British Empire. She was determined to do her utmost to that end. But she +utterly failed in her criminal efforts. + +Strongly bound by ties of affection and constitutional freedom, the +great autonomous Dominions and Colonies at once rallied with courage and +patriotism to the defence of the Empire, of Justice, of Right and +Civilization. India,--that great Indian Empire--to the utter +disappointment of Germany, has stood admirably by Great Britain ever +since the outbreak of the War, by her noble contributions of man-power +and her munificent generosity of very large sums of money, in one +instance amounting to $500,000,000. + +The Crown Colonies have also done their share of duty with great +devotion. + +The admirable result which for the last four years has been shining +bright and glorious all over the world, is that, contrary to teutonic +expectations, the war, far from breaking asunder the British Empire, has +wonderfully solidified her mighty edifice, by an intensity of loyalty to +her free institutions, to her glorious flag, which the enjoyment of the +blessings of peace would not have proved so easily possible. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE NATIONALIST ERROR. + + +The leaders of our Nationalist School have for years strenuously +laboured to pervert the mind of our French-Canadian compatriots by the +false pretensions that we were, in some mysterious way, coerced to +participate in the European War. Even previous to the days of the South +African conflict, they boldly took the stand that Canada should, on no +account, and under no circumstances whatever, participate in what they +called the Wars of the Empire--_les guerres de l'Empire_. Canada, they +affirmed, had only to defend her own territory if attacked. + +Fully appreciating how insidious and dangerous such theories were, I +endeavoured to show, as forcibly as I could, that there had been no +attempt by England at coercion of this Dominion to help her in the +struggle against Germany. Of course, as previously explained, Great +Britain being at war with the German Empire, the whole British Empire +was at war. But no one in England ever intended to propose to force the +colonies to engage actively into the fight. The Imperial Parliament +would certainly not have taken into consideration any such proposition. + +But is it not plain and beyond discussion that we, _ourselves_, had the +undoubted right to intervene in the war to the extent that we would +consider it our bounden duty to do so? + +Evidently we could not remain neutral in the great conflict. At the very +moment that Great Britain was at war with Germany, Canada, a British +Colony, was part and parcel of the belligerent Sovereign State, the +British Empire. By an incredible misconception, the Nationalist leaders +confounded _neutrality_ with _non-participation_ in the war, if we had +so decided. + +To be, or not to be, neutral, was not within our constitutional rights. +If Germany, either by land or by sea, had attacked our territory, as she +had the undoubted belligerent right to do, would it have availed us an +iota to implore her mercy by affirming that we were neutral? Could we +have pretended that she was violating neutral territory? + +No one with the least notion of International Law would for a moment +hesitate to give the true answers to those questions. + +But the very different question to participate, or not, in the war, was +for us alone to decide according to our constitutional charter. We have +freely, deliberately, decided to do our share in the great war. We +continue and persevere in our noble task, freely and deliberately. + +It is admitted by all that under the actual constitutional organization +of the Empire, the Imperial Parliament could not require the autonomous +colonies to participate in the war. But no one can assuredly deny to +that Parliament the right, in the case of an imminent peril, to +formulate the desire that the autonomous colonies would help Great +Britain to conjure the threatened calamity. + +But, in the present case, the Imperial Parliament has not even been +under the necessity of expressing such a legitimate wish, for the +obvious reason that the colonies at once took their patriotic stand in +favor of the cause of England and her Allies. If the colonies had not so +decided, of their own free will, it is most likely that the Imperial +Parliament would not have expressed the wish for the assistance of the +Dominions overseas. + +The hearty support granted by the colonies to Great Britain, to develop +its full value, had to be spontaneous, enthusiastic. Such it was, such +it is, and such it will be to the last day of the conflict which +victorious conclusion we are so strongly determined to achieve. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +HAD CANADA THE RIGHT TO HELP ENGLAND? + + +Not satisfied to do the best it could to persuade our French-Canadian +countrymen that they had been coerced into the war by England, our +"Nationalist School" extensively used the argument that Canada had not +the right to intervene into the European struggle. I refuted this +erroneous pretension by the following propositions, the very essence of +our constitutional rights and liberties:-- + +1.--The Canadian Cabinet had the undoubted constitutional right to +advise His Excellency the Governor-General to approve the measures to be +taken to give effect to their decision to participate in the war, +decision and measures for which they were responsible to the Canadian +Parliament and to the Canadian Electorate. + +2.--The Canadian Parliament had the undoubted constitutional right to +approve or disapprove the decision and the measures of the Cabinet. +Parliament approved that decision and those measures, acting within +their constitutional right. + +3.--Even at the time I was writing, it could evidently be affirmed that +the Canadian Electorate had approved the stand taken by both the +Canadian Cabinet and the Canadian Parliament according to well known and +defined constitutional usages. + +Was it not proved beyond reasonable controversy, that the Canadian +people heartily approved the decision of their Parliament to help in the +great war? + +Let me summarize the evidence as follows:-- + +1.--The war policy of the Cabinet, at the special session called in +August, 1914, for that very purpose, was unanimously approved by +Parliament, no Senator and no Member of the House of Commons moving to +censure the responsible ministers for their decision to have Canada to +participate in the war. The two great political parties have solemnly +sanctioned that decision. + +2.--Public opinion was also very strongly proved by the almost unanimity +of the public press patriotically supporting the stand taken by +Parliament. The exceptions were so few, that, as usual, they contributed +to emphasize the soundness of the general rule. + +3.--During the three years following the decision of the Canadian +Parliament, a great number of large public meetings were held throughout +Canada, and addressed by many leading and influential citizens all +approving the action of Parliament. The meetings enthusiastically +concurred in the powerful indorsation of the war policy of the speakers. + +In a few public gatherings some disapproval was expressed, but not one +meeting would go to the length of passing "Resolutions" censuring the +Cabinet and the Parliament of Canada, or declaring that our Dominion +should not have interfered into the war. + +4.--Not one petition against the Canadian intervention into the war was +addressed to Parliament. + +5.--Leading Clergymen, of all denominations; leaders of political +associations almost of all shades of opinion; financial, industrial, +commercial leaders, all of them approved the patriotic interference of +Canada into the war. + +6.--The evident general approval of the unanimous decision, taken in +1916, to extend the Parliamentary term. + +7.--The wonderful success of the public loans raised for war purposes. + +8.--The enlightened and generous patriotism with which the country has +accepted and paid war taxation. + +9.--But, above all, the voluntary recruiting of four hundred thousand +men of all social conditions who have rallied to the flag of the Empire +for the defence of her existence and for the triumph of Civilization and +Justice. + +I, therefore, drew the undeniable conclusion that, contrary to the +"Nationalist" pretension, Canada was participating in the war in the +most regular constitutional way, without even the shadow of a breach of +our Canadian autonomy, of our constitutional rights and liberties. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE DUTY OF CANADA. + + +Having affirmed that Canada had no right to interfere in the war, the +"Nationalist" leaders at once concluded that she was not in duty bound +to do so. That most discreditable inference was, of course, the natural +sequence of the wrong principle aforesaid. They further drew the +conclusion that it was no part of the duty of Canadians to join the +Colors to help winning the war. + +It was in flat contradiction of those erroneous notions that I +positively declared, in my letter dedicating my book to my French +Canadian compatriots, that "_in defending with the most sincere +conviction the sacred cause of the Allies, I am doing my duty as a free +subject of the British Empire, as a citizen of Canada and of the +Province of Quebec, as a son of France, as a devoted servant of Justice +and Right_." + +Very narrow minded indeed is the man who has no higher conception of his +duty than the one limiting him to the observance of positive and +negative laws enacted by the legitimate authority to protect society and +every one of its members. + +When England, together with the other leading nations, was brutally +challenged by Germany, and threatened in her very national existence, +it is beyond comprehension that Canada, and all the British colonial +possessions overseas, could so mistake their bounden duty as to refuse +rushing to help the Mother Country in such a trying occurrence. +Moreover, have we not, merely as men, duties to perform to protect +Civilization against the deadly attack of barbarism, to have Justice and +Right triumphant in international relations? + +It is a matter of deep wonder to me that any one could have been so +blind as not to perceive that in joining with Great Britain to defend +the cause of the Allies, we were surely defending our own territory, our +own soil, our own homes. How incredible was the "Nationalist" contention +that we should have waited for the actual German attack of our land +before mustering our resources of resistance. Who could not see, at a +glance, that if Germany had, as it fully expected, easily triumphed over +the combined forces of France, England and Russia, it would have been +sheer madness to attempt resisting the victorious onslaught of a few +hundred thousands of her veteran soldiers, whose valour would have been +doubled by the enthusiasm of their European conquest. + +After mature consideration of the possible results of the disastrous +defeat of the combined efforts of the Allies, both on land and sea, the +conclusion was forced upon my mind that Germany, ferociously elated by +such a wonderful success, would no doubt have exacted from England the +cession of Canada to her Empire. So that without even firing a gun +against our territory, our wide Dominion would have been instantly +transferred from the British to the German Sovereignty. I shuddered at +such a vision, and still more deeply realized how much we, Canadians, +were all in duty bound to help the Allies in crushing Prussian +militarism. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE SOUDANESE AND SOUTH AFRICAN WARS. + + +In the two previously mentioned pamphlets, Mr. Bourassa argued at length +to prove that Canada had been led to intervene in the great European war +as a consequence of her intervention in the South African War. It is +well known throughout the Dominion that the South African conflict was +the occasion chosen by the "Nationalist" leader to proclaim his doctrine +that the autonomous colonies should have nothing to do with the wars of +the Empire--LES GUERRES DE L'EMPIRE. He then strongly opposed Canadian +support of Great Britain in her struggle in South Africa. + +In one of his pamphlets, Mr. Bourassa affirmed that the Government of +Sir John A. Macdonald had, in 1884, refused the request of the Imperial +Government to interfere in its favour in the Soudanese war. Well aware +of the events of this struggle, I positively knew that the "Nationalist" +leader's assertion was not borne out by the facts, and was historically +false. I considered it my duty, in a special chapter, to explain fully +the circumstances of the case to my French Canadian countrymen. + +It should be well remembered that England was brought into the Soudanese +conflict on account of her relations with Egypt, which she had delivered +from the Turkish yoke. + +Mr. Bourassa prefaced his above mentioned affirmation by recalling the +fact that it was in consideration of the Soudanese difficulties that +"_for the first time in the history of the Colonial Empire of Great +Britain, offers of armed support were made by the autonomous colonies_." + +Is it not evident that if--as was true--such offers were made +spontaneously by the Colonies, it cannot be pretended that the proffered +armed support was asked by England. If England did not solicit such +support, it is plain that Sir John A. Macdonald and his Cabinet could +not refuse what was never applied for. + +What are the true historical facts? + +In November 1884, General Laurie, who has represented one of the +electoral divisions of Nova Scotia at Ottawa, who has also held a seat +in the British House of Commons, took the initiative to propose to raise +a Canadian regiment for the campaign in the Soudan. In the regular +official way, General Laurie's offer was addressed to the Secretary of +State for the Colonies, Lord Derby. The Imperial Government declined the +offer. + +On the 7th of February, 1885, on hearing the news of the disaster of +Khartoum, which caused great excitement in England, and naturally +created a strong public feeling to avenge the outrage, General Laurie, +always enthusiastic, tendered anew his services. He was not the only +Canadian officer wishing to go and fight the cruel Soudaneses. A member +of the Canadian Parliament, Colonel Williams, commanding the 46th +volunteer battalion of Durham-East, also desired to take part in the +African campaign with his regiment. On the 9th of February, 1885, he +tendered his proposition to Sir Charles Tupper, then High Commissioner +in London, who sent it to the Colonial Office. + +On the 10th of February, His Excellency the Governor General, Lord +Lansdowne, cabled to the Colonial Secretary that the offers of military +service were very numerous. This spontaneous movement, so rapidly +spreading, was the forerunner of those of 1899 and 1914. Thirty years +ago, and long before, there were brave men in Canada. There always have +been and ever will be. + +These news were no doubt very encouraging for the Imperial authorities. + +Lord Derby, thanking Lord Lansdowne, begged him to say "_Whether they_ +(the offers of service) _are sanctioned and recommended by the Dominion +Government_." + +On the 12th of February, Lord Lansdowne answered Lord Derby that the +Dominion Government was ready to approve recruiting in Canada for +service in Egypt or elsewhere, provided that the men would be enlisted +under the authority of the Imperial Army Discipline Act, and the expense +paid by the Imperial Treasury. + +It consequently follows from the above despatches that the Soudanese +campaign offered to many officers of our volunteer Militia the long +wished for opportunity to freely tender their services to the Imperial +Government; that the British authorities never applied to the Canadian +Government, then presided by Sir John A. Macdonald, for armed support in +Soudanese Africa; that, on being officially informed of the offers of +service received by His Excellency the Governor General, the Colonial +Secretary, before accepting or declining them, enquired if the Canadian +Government sanctioned and recommended them; that the Governor General +answered him in the affirmative, the recruiting to be made according to +the Imperial Military Act at the expense of the Imperial exchequer. + +On the 16th of February, the War Minister, then the Marquis of +Hartington, informed the Colonial Secretary that he had come to the +conclusion to decline with thanks the offers of service from Canada, for +the reason that it would have taken too long a time to recruit and +organize the regiments offered by General Laurie and Colonel Williams. + +Was I not right, when I refuted Mr. Bourassa's assertion, in saying that +if a _refusal_ was _then_ given, it was by the British Government who +had received the freely tendered services, and not by the Canadian +Government, to whom no demand of armed support had been made by Great +Britain? + +If it is indeed very astonishing that Mr. Bourassa should have taken the +responsibility to affirm that the Government of Sir John A. Macdonald +had refused to help Great Britain in the Soudanese campaign, it is easy +to understand his object in so doing. His purpose was to convince his +French Canadian readers that the political leaders at the head of the +Government, in 1899 and 1914, together with the Canadian Parliament, +had, in a revolutionary way, reversed the traditional policy of Canada +of non-intervention in the "wars of the Empire"--_les guerres de +l'empire_. And to achieve his end, so detrimental to the best interests +of the Dominion, he did not hesitate to draw an absolutely erroneous +conclusion from undeniable historical facts. + +The "Nationalist" leader was very anxious to charge the chieftains of +the two great political parties with an equal responsibility for what he +terms a "Revolution" in our relations with the Mother Country. With this +object constantly in view, he pretended that the intervention of Canada +in the South African War created the precedent which brought about the +Dominion participation in the European war, in 1914. In order to stir up +to the utmost the prejudices of the French Canadians, he boldly +qualified the South African conflict as an _infamous crime_ on the part +of England. + +Unfortunately, the true history of the difficulties which culminated in +the Boer War of 1899, was at the time little known throughout Canada, +and even less particularly in the Province of Quebec. At the outbreak of +the struggle, wishing to form a sound opinion of the causes of which it +was the direct outcome, I made an exhaustive study of the South African +question, beginning at the very inception of the Dutch settlement dating +as far back as 1652, the year during which the Dutch East India Company +occupied Table Bay. Six years later, in 1658, French Huguenots reached +South Africa, joining with the Dutch Reformists, who rather +energetically did all they could to assimilate them. Still later on, +besides some few German immigrants, a third group of Europeans settled +on the African coast. They were Englishmen. + +All the Europeans, on landing in South Africa, few in numbers, had at +once to contend with the black race numbering many millions. The history +of the long struggle between European civilization, represented by the +English and Dutch immigrants, and African barbarity, is indeed very +interesting. Carefully read and studied in all its bearings, it strongly +impressed upon my mind the conviction that had it not been for the +timely armed protection they often solicited and received from England, +the Dutch Boers would certainly have been annihilated by the tribes of +the black race. They could not hope to successfully resist the +onslaughts to which they were repeatedly submitted. They were saved from +utter destruction by the strong arm of Great Britain, occupying an +important strategical position by her Cape Colony. The British +Government had favoured the settlement of the sons of England in South +Africa, for the purpose of assuring, by a powerful naval station, the +freedom of communication with the great regions soon to develop into her +vast Indian Empire. + +How, and under what circumstances, was British Sovereignty established +in South Africa? I considered this question the most important to +ascertain, in order to judge fairly the history of the last century in +those regions. It was settled by the Peace Congress of Vienna, in 1815. +All the European nations represented at that congress, have sanctioned +British Sovereignty in South Africa upon the condition of the payment by +England to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, of which Holland was then a +part, of the sum of $30,000,000. Consequently the Sovereign Rights of +Great Britain in South Africa were henceforth undeniable. + +In my French book, I somewhat extensively summarized the development of +the British and Dutch groups of settlers in South Africa. It is well +known that the Boers are of Dutch origin. That a rivalry did develop +between the two national elements, is not to be wondered at by any one +having some knowledge of the history of the world. + +I do not consider it necessary to go at any length in relating the +vicissitudes of the conflict between the aspirations of the Boer element +and the undoubted rights of British suzerainty. As a rule they are +sufficiently well known by my English readers. + +But I wish to emphasize the two undeniable facts: first, that throughout +this protracted contest, England did perseveringly try to favour South +Africa with the largest possible measure of political liberty. Second, +that the crisis was finally brought about by the persistent +determination of the Government of Pretoria to refuse justice to the +Uitlanders and to the British capitalists who, at the urgent request of +President Kruger, had invested many millions in the development of the +very valuable mines recently discovered in the Transvaal territory. + +Though England had agreed to the establishment of the two Republics of +the Transvaal and Orange, she had maintained her suzerainty on those +territories, which suzerainty the Government of Pretoria had again +recognized by the Convention of 1884. + +The most convincing proof that England did not intend any unfair design +against the South African Republics, is the fact that she did not +prepare to resist the armed attack of the Government of Pretoria which +could be easily foreseen by the intense organization they were evidently +making to impose Boer supremacy in South Africa. + +In his very unjust appreciation of the policy of Great Britain in South +Africa, Mr. Bourassa kept no account whatever of the very important +fact that war was declared against England by the South African +Republic. How could Great Britain have been guilty of a hideous crime in +not bowing to the dictate of President Kruger and his Government, as the +"Nationalist" leader said, is beyond comprehension. + +England was absolutely within her right in accepting the challenge of +the Government of Pretoria, and fighting to maintain her flag and her +Sovereignty in South Africa. + +Fortunately, the South African War, characterized by deeds of heroism on +both sides, has had the most satisfactory conclusion. It is to be hoped +that for many long years the future of that great country is settled +with all the blessings that political liberty and free institutions will +surely confer on that important part of the British Empire. The Boers +themselves have fully recognized that their own national development +cannot be better guaranteed and safeguarded than by the powerful +Sovereignty pledged to their protection, on the only condition of their +loyal allegiance to the flag waving on the fair land where they can +multiply in peace, prosperity and happiness. The enthusiasm and the +admirable courage with which they have rallied to the support of Great +Britain and her Allies in the present war, is the best evidence how much +they appreciate the advantages of their new conditions in the great +South African Dominion destined to such a grand future. + +I most sincerely deplore the persistent efforts of the "Nationalist" +leader to pervert more and more the mind of my French Canadian +countrymen by his so very unfair appreciation of the nature of the South +African conflict. It was with the hope of counteracting them that I +introduced a special chapter in my French edition explaining, as fully +as I could, though in a condensed form, the South African question. + +The assertion that the participation of Canada in the present European +war was the sequence of the precedent of our intervention in the South +African struggle, is also most injustifiable and untenable. Had Canada +taken no part whatever in the South African War, it would not have made +the least difference with regard to the decision of the Canadian people +to support Great Britain and the Allies in their gigantic effort to put +an end to Prussian terrorism. The assertion which I most emphatically +contradict could have no other object but to prejudice the public mind +against Canadian intervention in any of the wars of the Empire--_les +guerres de l'empire_. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +BRITISH AND GERMAN ASPIRATIONS COMPARED. + + +In the attempt to justify his opposition to the Canadian armed support +of the Allies' cause, Mr. Bourassa repeatedly asserted that Great +Britain was as much as Germany aspiring to rule the whole world. He +pretends that there is no difference between Anglo-Saxonism and +Germanism. + +How unjust and dangerous is such a doctrine is evident to any fair +minded man. It was no doubt calculated to prejudice the French Canadians +against Great Britain, by telling them that the sacrifices they were +called upon to make were imposed upon them only to favour the British +determination to reach the goal of her ambition:--universal domination. + +I strongly repudiated such assertions and vindicated England's course +and policy. + +To accuse Great Britain to aspire to universal domination is a most +unwarranted charge, contradicted by the whole history of the last +century during which she was the most determined supporter of peace. + +Though one of the great Powers of the world, England never undertook to +organize a large standing army. How could she aspire to the world's +domination without a complete military organization comprising many +millions of men, is what I am unable to understand. + +Mr. Bourassa's argument to prove his assertion is based on the efforts +of England to maintain and develop her naval forces so as to guarantee +her supremacy on the high seas of the world. How he failed to realize +that Great Britain, on account of her insular position, close to the +European continent, is by nature itself bound, of sheer necessity, to +protect herself by the strength of her military naval power, is beyond +comprehension. Supremacy on the seas is for the Mother Country a mere +question of national existence,--to be or not to be. But supremacy on +the seas cannot, and will never, permit England to attain anything like +universal domination. And why? For the obvious reason that Great Britain +is not, and never can become, a continental Power, in the exact sense of +the word. + +I explained, conclusively, I believe, that the case would be very +different if Germany succeeded in her efforts to supplant England's +supremacy on the seas. When the Berlin Government undertook to build a +huge military fleet, Germany was the greatest continental military +Power. What were her expectations when she adopted that threatening +naval policy? The Berlin authorities were very confident that when they +would decide to bring on the great war for which they had been +strenuously preparing for half a century, they would in a few months +have continental Europe at their feet and under their sway. Triumphant +over Europe they would have at once dominated Asia and a great part of +Africa. The next surest way for the German Empire to reach universal +domination was to break England's power on the seas. What is impossible +for England to accomplish, on account of her insular position, Germany, +being a continental Empire, could achieve if she became mistress of the +seas. + +The present war is the proof evident that the mighty power of England on +the seas has been the salvation of her national existence and, almost +equally, that of France and Italy. It kept the oceans open for the trade +of all the Allied and neutral nations. He is willingly blind, +intellectually, the man who does not see that deprived of the matchless +protection of her naval forces, Great Britain could be starved and +subdued in a few months by an enemy ruling the waves against her. + +Is it possible to suppose that any man aspiring to help moulding the +public opinion of his countrymen, ignores that with the relatively small +extent of the territory it can devote to agricultural production, Great +Britain can never feed her actual population of over forty-five +millions, most likely to reach sixty millions in the not very distant +future. Consequently how unjust, how extravagant, is it to accuse +England of any aspiration to dominate the world by means of the +sacrifices she is absolutely bound to make for the only sake of her +self-defence, her self-protection. + +If he does not know, I will no doubt cordially oblige the "Nationalist" +leader by informing him that Great Britain, usually importing food +products to the amount of seven to eight hundred millions of dollars, +for many years past, required as much as a billion dollars worth of them +in the war year of 1915. It is so easy to foresee that the continual +increase of the population of the United Kingdom, by the new large +developments which will surely follow the war in all industrial, +commercial and financial pursuits, will cause a relative increase in the +importations of food products likely to reach, and even exceed before +long, an average total annual value of a billion and a quarter dollars. + +None of the European continental Powers has the same imperious reasons +as England to take the proper means to guarantee her control of the +seas. How is it then that Germany is the only Power to object to +England's policy, if it is not for the ultimate object to attain +universal domination by the overthrow of Great Britain's ascendency on +the wide oceans, which would permit her to realize her long cherished +aim by the combined powerful effort of her gigantic military forces both +on land and sea. + +With regard to England's naval supremacy, the "Nationalist" leader is +also committed to other opinions which I strongly contradicted. He +entirely forgets that beyond the sea coast limits, well defined by +International Law, no Sovereign rights can be claimed on the high seas. +The navigation of the ocean is free to all nations by nature itself. Has +any Government ever entertained the foolish idea that the broad Atlantic +could, for instance, be divided into so many parts as the European, +Asiatic, or American continents, over which several States could +exercise Sovereign powers? No Chinese Wall can be built on the seas. + +My own view of the case, which I believe to be the correct one, is that +England's naval supremacy means nothing more nor less than the police of +the seas, and the protection of the flags of all the Nations navigating +them, besides being, of course and necessarily, the guarantee of her +National existence. + +Blind also, intellectually, is the British subject not sufficiently +inspired by the true sense of the duties of Loyalty, who does not +understand that once Great Britain's maritime power would be crushed and +the United Kingdom either conquered or obliged to an humiliating peace +which would ruin all her future prospects, the Colonial Empire would +equally be at the mercy of the victorious enemy of the Mother Country. + +With the most earnest conviction, I have tried, to the best of my +ability, to persuade my French-Canadian compatriots of the inevitable +dangers ahead if the false views which were so persistingly impressed +upon their minds were ever to prevail, and the aim they undoubtedly +favour to be realized. + +Another argument widely used by our "Nationalist" School to influence +the opinion of the French Canadians against Canada's participation in +the war, was that Great Britain herself was not doing what she ought to +win the victory. I have personally heard this false objection repeated +by many--unconsciously of course--who were influenced in so saying by +the "Nationalist" press. + +No more unfair charge could have been made against England. I could not +help being indignant at reading it, knowing as I did, by daily acquired +information what an immense effort the United Kingdom had been making, +from the very beginning of the hostilities, to play its powerful part in +the great war into which it had nobly decided to enter to avenge its +honour, to defend the Empire and the whole world against German +barbarous militarism. + +I have already commented on the immense service guaranteed to the Allied +nations by the British fleet. To illustrate the wonderful and admirable +military effort of Great Britain, I will quote some very important +figures from the most interesting Report of the British War Cabinet, for +the year 1917, presented to Parliament by Command of His Majesty. + +Under the title "_Construction and Supply_" the Report says:-- + + During the past year the Naval Service has undergone continual + expansion in order to enable it to meet every demand made upon + it, not only in the seas surrounding these islands, but in the + Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Arctic Ocean, + the Pacific, and the Atlantic, where it has co-operated with the + Naval forces of the Allies. The displacement tonnage of the + Royal Navy in 1914 was 2,400,000 tons. To-day it has increased + by 75 per cent.--=(making a total of 4,200,000 tons--)=. The + ships and vessels of all kinds employed in the Naval Service in + September, 1914, after the whole of the mobilisation had been + completed, had a tonnage of just over 4 million; now the figure + is well over 6 million. Transports, fleet attendants and + overseas oilers and similar auxiliary vessels at the outbreak of + war numbered 23; the Admiralty to-day control nearly 700 such + craft. The strength of the personnel, which was 145,000, has + been increased to 420,000. + + From these brief particulars regarding the ships and their + manning, an estimate can be formed of the expansions that have + been made in the auxiliary services, such as guns, torpedoes, + munitions, and stores of all kinds, anti-submarine apparatus, + mines, &c., and some idea is gained of the demands that have + been made upon the great army of workers on shore, the men in + the Royal dockyards and arsenals, in the shipyards, the engine + shops, and the factories, without whose help the Fleet could not + be maintained as a fighting force. + + As regards warship and auxiliary ship construction, the output + during the last 12 months has been between three and four times + the average annual output for the few years preceding the war. + + The Admiralty now control all the dry docks in the + country,...--250 merchant ships are being repaired each week, + either in dry dock or afloat. + + Since the beginning of the war, 31,470 British war vessels have + been placed in dock or on the slips =(--as many as 225 being + repaired in one week--)=.... These figures do not include repair + work carried out to the vessels of our Allies.... + +The Transport Service is of the highest importance in carrying on the +war. What has been the achievement of England on that score? Under the +title:--"_Transportation_" the War Cabinet Report proves its immensity +as follows:-- + + The record of what has been done by the transport services for + the Armies of the Allies shows a stupendous amount of work + accomplished, which constitutes one of the brilliant + achievements of the war. There had been transported overseas up + till the end of August, 1917, the last date for which complete + statistics are available--some:--13 million human + beings--combatants, wounded, medical personnel, refugees, + prisoners, &c.; 2 million horses and mules; ½ million vehicles; + 25 million tons of explosive and supplies for the armies; ... 51 + million tons of coal and oil fuel for the use of our Fleets, our + Armies, and to meet the needs of our Allies. + + The operations of the seas are on such a large scale that it is + difficult to realize all that is involved in sea transportation; + for example, over 7,000 personnel are transported, and more than + 30,000 tons of stores and supplies have to be imported daily + into France for the maintenance of our own army. About 567 + steamers, of approximately 1¾ million tons, are continually + employed in the service of carrying troops and stores to the + Armies in France and to the forces in various theatres of war in + the East. + +We all know that the Berlin Government expected that the submarine +campaign would result in an early final victory for the Central Empires. +Herr von Bethmann Hollweg, then the Imperial Chancellor, said:--"_The +Blockade must succeed within a limited number of weeks, within which +America cannot effectively participate in the operations_." + +How he was mistaken, and extravagant were his expectations, events have +proved. This sentence is also proof evident that he realized how +effective the United States effort would become, if the submarine +campaign did not succeed within a few weeks. + +The iniquitous submarine campaign, re-opened early in the year 1917, +"_added materially to the responsibilities of the Navy. To meet this new +and serious menace drastic steps had to be taken to supplement those +adopted in the previous December and January_." + +The Report adds:-- + + A large number of new destroyers have been built and at the same + time auxiliary patrol services have been expanded enormously so + as to deal with the nefarious submarine and minelaying methods + of the enemy. Before the outbreak of the war there were under 20 + vessels employed as minesweepers and on auxiliary patrol duties. + To-day the number of craft used for these purposes at home and + abroad is about 3,400, and is constantly increasing. + + * * * * * + + A new feature of the means adopted for the protection of trade + against submarines has been a return to the convoy system as + practised in bygone wars. It has been markedly effective in + reducing the losses. During the last few months over 90 per + cent. of all vessels sailing in all the Atlantic trades were + convoyed.... + + The Royal Naval Air Service at the outbreak of war possessed a + personnel of under 800; at the present moment the numbers + approach 46,000 and are continually increasing.... Mention must + also be made of the great value of the air services in combating + the submarine menace round our coasts.... Illustrating their + extent it may be stated that in one week the aircraft patrol + round the British coasts alone flies 30,000 miles. + + The general result of the German attack, therefore, though + serious enough, is far from unprecedented. In the two years + after Trafalgar, when our command of the sea was unquestioned, + we still lost 1,045 merchant ships by capture, and in the whole + period from 1794 to 1875 we lost over 10,000 merchant ships. + + Nor should we lose sight of the very heavy losses sustained by + the enemy in the present war. At the commencement of + hostilities, Germany had 915 merchant ships abroad, of which + only 158 got home safely; the remainder within a few days were + cleared from the oceans, either captured or driven to shelter in + neutral ports. In the aggregate the German Mercantile Marine + consisted of over 5 million tons of shipping; at the present + time nearly half of this has been sunk or captured by ourselves + or our Allies, while the bulk of the rest is lying useless in + harbour. + +Let me now refer to the military effort of Great Britain. Under the +title:--"_Strength of the Army," &c._, the War Cabinet Report gives the +following most inspiring figures. + + The effort which the British nations have made under the one + item of "Provision of Men for the Armed Forces of the Crown" + amounts to not less than 7,500,000 men, and of these 60.4 per + cent. have been contributed by England, 8.3 per cent. by + Scotland, 3.7 per cent. by Wales, 2.3 per cent. by Ireland, 1.2 + per cent. by the Dominions and the Colonies, while the + remainder, 13.3 per cent., composed of native fighting troops, + labour corps, carriers, &c., represent the splendid contribution + made by India and our various African and other Dependencies. + + * * * * * + + =Royal Artillery.=--The personnel of the Royal Artillery + increased 17.6 per cent., between August, 1916, and August, + 1917. + + In the first nine months of 1917 the supply of modern + anti-aircraft guns in the field increased 44 per cent., that of + field guns 17 per cent., of field-howitzers 26 per cent., of + heavy guns 40 per cent., of medium howitzers 104 per cent., of + heavy howitzers 16 per cent., and of heavy-guns on railway + mountings 100 per cent.; these last have an increased range of + about 35 per cent.... We have also supplied large numbers of + heavy guns and trench mortars to our Allies in different + theatres of war. + + * * * * * + + The Medical Service has continued to expand with the growth of + the Army and its strength is now largely in excess of our whole + original Expeditionary Force.... More than 17,000 women are + employed as nurses and over 28,000 others are engaged in + military hospitals on various forms of work.... Hospitals in the + United Kingdom now number more than 2,000. + + * * * * * + + The health of the troops in the United Kingdom is actually + better than the peace rate; the same is the case in France, + excluding admissions to hospital by reason of wounds. + +The above quoted figures prove that out of a total of 7,500,000 men for +the Armed Forces of the British Crown, Great Britain--the United +Kingdom--had contributed, at the end of last year, 5,625,000, out of +which number the shore of England and Wales amounted to 4,800,000. The +British Colonial Empire's contribution had been 1,875,000. + +At the date of the current year--August, 1918--I am writing, I can +safely calculate that the number of men for the Armed Forces of the +British Crown--using the words of the Official Report above quoted--has +reached, at least, _the grand and magnificent total of 8,000,000_. The +percentage of respective contributions of the United Kingdom and the +Colonial Empire no doubt remaining the same, the relative number of each +of them is,--for the United Kingdom 6,000,000; for the Colonies +2,000,000. + +I consider the War Cabinet Report of 1917 so interesting, so +encouraging, that my readers will, I am confident, kindly bear with me +in a few more very important quotations, the full Report itself having +had only a very limited circulation in Canada. + + +TRANSPORT. + +In addition to the prodigious Naval effort of England, both military and +mercantile, previously illustrated, Great Britain has most powerfully +contributed to the fighting operations on land by an immense improvement +in transportation facilities by railway construction in all British +theatres of war. + +The Report says:-- + + In all these theatres railways have come to play a more and more + important part. In France a vast light railway system has been + created, involving the supply during the present year of + approximately 1,700 miles of track and the whole of the + equipment.... Exclusive of these light railway systems, the + total amount of permanent railway track supplied complete to all + theatres of war is about 3,600 miles. In Egypt the railway + crossing the desert from the Suez Canal has now reached and + passed Gaza. In Mesopotamia the rapid and successful movements + of our troops have only been made possible by the construction + of a whole series of lines since the beginning of 1917. The + development of road-building has been on a similar scale, and + the shipments of material, equipment and stores for these two + purposes during the last nine months have averaged 200,000 tons + a month. Much labour has also been spent in the organisation of + an Overland Line of Communication through France and Italy to + the Mediterranean in order to save shipping. This line was + opened for personnel traffic in June, 1917, and for goods + traffic early in August. + + * * * * * + + In France the conveyance of supplies of all kinds to our armies + along the French rivers and canals is performed by a large fleet + of tugs, barges, and self-propelled barges. The fleet thus + employed in France consists of over 700 vessels, and the tonnage + carried by it averages over 50,000 tons per week. + + +THE AIR SERVICE. + +In a recital indicating generally what steps have been taken in matters +of administration and control, the Report says:-- + + From the point of view of defence, the new arm presented + problems pregnant with at least equal importance. The proud and + ancient inviolability of these islands was being challenged in a + new and startling fashion, and the seriousness of the problem + was added to by the fact that the geographical position of the + capital of the Empire rendered it particularly inviting to + attack from the air. + +Respecting the supply of Aircraft, the Report says that:-- + + In endeavoring to describe the measures taken to meet the + aircraft needs of the Navy and Army, the writer is at once + confronted by the fact that the information desired by the + country is precisely the information desired by the enemy. What + the country wants to know is what has been the expansion in our + Air Services; whether we have met and are meeting all the + demands of the Navy and of the Army, both for replacement of + obsolete machines by the most modern types, and for the increase + of our fighting strength in the air; what proportion of the + national resources in men, material and factories is being + devoted to aviation; what the expansion is likely to be in the + future. These are precisely the facts which we should like to + know with regard to the German air service, and for that reason + it would be inadmissible for us to supply Germany with + corresponding information about ourselves by publishing a + statement on the subject. + + It can be said that the expansion of our Air Services is keeping + pace generally with the growing needs of the Navy and the Army. + +In Chapter VIII, under the heading:--"_The Ministry of Munitions in +1917_," the following is read:-- + + The number of persons engaged in the production of munitions in + October, 1917, was 2,022,000 men and 704,000 women, as compared + with 1,921,000 men and 535,000 women in January. They have thus + been increased during the past six months at the rate of 11,000 + men and 19,000 women per month. These numbers include those + employed in Government and in private establishments, in the + principal munition industries, chemical and explosive trades, + engineering and munition plants, furnaces and foundries, in + shipbuilding and in mining other than coal-mining. The total + represents approximately two-thirds of the total labour occupied + on Government work in industry. + +The preceding official statistics prove most conclusively that actually, +and ever since the beginning of the third year of the war, more than +_twelve millions_ of men and women--more than the fourth of the total +population of the United Kingdom--have been either in the Armed Forces +of the British Crown--Navy and Army--or in the shipbuilding yards, in +munitions factories, in transportation on land and sea, in the Medical +Service, in the Air Service, &c., employed for the success of the cause +of the Allies. + + +THE FINANCIAL EFFORT OF GREAT BRITAIN. + +The gigantic military effort of Great Britain, in all the branches of +its wonderfully developed organization, as above illustrated, was only +rendered possible by a corresponding financial contribution. + +During the financial year preceding the outbreak of the war, the total +expenditure of the Government of Great Britain was $987,464,845. The +hostilities have imposed upon the United Kingdom vast expenditures. "For +that period"--again quoting the War Cabinet Report--"from the 1st April, +1917, to the 1st December, 1917, the total Exchequer issues for +expenditure (including Consolidated Fund Service and Supply Services) +were £1,799,223,000,--($8,796,115,000) representing a daily average for +that period of £7,344,000 ($36,720,000)." + +At this rate of expenditure, the total for the year equals at least +$13,500,000,000. But the financial charges entailed by the war being +constantly on the increase, they can be calculated at a daily average of +no less than $40,000,000 until the close of the conflict. + +England has not only incurred very heavy financial obligations, met both +by an enormously increased taxation and the issue of large National +loans, to pay the cost of her own war expenditure, but she has also +generously helped her friends whose financial resources were not so +abundant as her own. To the 1st December, 1917, she had made advances to +the Allies amounting to no less than $5,930,000,000. In addition to this +large amount, the advances she had made to the Dominions for the same +period summed up $875,000,000. + + +ACHIEVEMENTS OF DOMINION, COLONIAL AND INDIAN TROOPS. + +Under the above title, the War Cabinet Report concludes a general review +of the past year's effort by paying high tribute to the value of the +services rendered by the whole British Colonial Empire, in the following +elogious terms:-- + + In the above sketch of military operations during the past year, + it has not been possible to distinguish between the particular + services rendered by the various nations and nationalities of + the Empire. But it must not be forgotten that during the war the + forces of the Crown have become welded into a true Imperial + army, representative of every part of the world-wide British + Commonwealth, and a brief note may be included as to the special + services of the various overseas forces. + + The share of the Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, South + African and Newfoundland contingents in the successes of the + 1917 campaign are well known. The capture of Vimy Ridge in + April, the prolonged and bitter fighting around Lens during the + whole summer and autumn, and the capture of Passchendaele were + carried out by the Canadian Corps, which has thus proved itself + as excellent in offensive as its splendid defence of Ypres in + 1915 had shown it to be in defensive fighting. The New Zealand + and Australian contingents have corresponding achievements to + their credit in their share of the battle of Messines and in the + long sustained and bitterly contested fights in the Ypres + salient from July to November. The South African brigade + sustained the brilliant reputation which it won last year at + Delville Wood by the devoted services it rendered on the + battlefields of Arras and Ypres. Finally, the Newfoundland + Regiment took a glorious and costly part in the same two + battles. The troops of all the Dominions have shown themselves + throughout the campaign of 1917 to have maintained the historic + standards of the British Army and have been worthy rivals of the + United Kingdom troops in every military effort and achievement. + + This testimony to the services rendered by the Dominions would + not be complete without some reference to the part played by + South Africa in German East Africa, where her troops have borne, + under the brilliant leadership of General Van Deventer, a + conspicuous share in a peculiarly arduous campaign. + + The smaller Colonies and Protectorates have naturally been + unable to play so great and conspicuous a part in the World War, + but in their own spheres they have contributed their full share + to the military effort of the Empire. Labour and fighting troops + were freely drawn upon for the Mesopotamian and East African + theatres. West Africa, British East Africa, Uganda, Nyasaland + and Rhodesia have all sent contingents to fight in German East + Africa. 16,000 men from the West Indies have been sent across + the Atlantic; and labour corps from the Eastern Colonies have + been sent to the Mesopotamian and East African fronts, and, + despite unfavourable conditions, to the Western theatre. A large + number of individuals from overseas possessions, such as the + Malay States and Hong Kong, have also joined the Imperial + forces. + + Finally, India's contribution, both in man-power, material and + money, has steadily increased throughout the year. India has + taken a very important share in the victorious campaign in + Mesopotamia. The great majority of the troops in this theatre of + war are Indian. They have fully sustained the high reputation of + the Indian Army for gallantry and endurance. India has been + responsible for much of the supply, medical and transportation + system by water and on land. Indian forces have also rendered + conspicuous service in France, Egypt and East Africa. The + question of the supply of officers, especially medical officers, + has been solved; commissions have been granted to Indians, and a + voluntary Indian Defence Force is now being organised and + trained. Special mention should be made of the loyal and + effective assistance of the Indian ruling princes and chiefs, + from the smallest to the greatest. + +The Indian Government has moreover generously contributed $500,000,000 +towards the cost of the war. + +The foregoing quotations of official figures, of facts undeniable, of +achievements really most extraordinary, constitute the unanswerable +refutation, complete and crushing, of the Nationalist charge that +England, while not doing her own duty with regard to the war, was using +undue influence to coerce the British Colonies to participate in the +conflict far beyond the fair proportionate effort to be expected on +their part; that an illegitimate pressure of Great Britain's Government +on her Colonies was being practised, as insidiously alleged, to promote +her Imperialist ambition of the World's ascendency. + +Unfortunately, those false and most unjust notions had taken deeper root +in many minds, even in some who should have been much above such an +unfair misconception, than was at first supposed. Hence the importance +of setting the matter right, and the necessity of proving that England's +war achievements, in every branch of the Military Service, were far +exceeding what had, at first, been expected of her, and was ever +considered possible. British pluck and manliness were equal to the +direst emergency that ever called them forth. Patriotism, courage, +determination, perseverance, rising superior to any increased +difficulties, have truly worked miracles of manly efforts and +self-sacrifices inspired by the noble cause which brought Great Britain +in the World's struggle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE VERITABLE AIMS OF THE ALLIES. + + +After doing their utmost to persuade the French Canadians that the +Allies, more especially England and Russia, were equally responsible for +the war, together with Germany and Austria, our "Nationalist" leaders +moreover asserted that they were hostile to a just and lasting peace on +account of their unfair claims. In support of their pretension, they +repeatedly affirmed that the Allies were pledged to the complete +destruction of the German Empire. No more unfounded charge could be made +against the Nations suddenly challenged to a gigantic struggle for life +or death. + +It was very important to protect my French Canadian countrymen against +views which, if not proved to be absolutely wrong, were calculated to +bias their mind against the Allies. With this patriotic object strongly +impressed upon my mind, I fully explained what were the veritable aims +of Great Britain, France, Russia and Italy, in fighting their deadly +enemy. When I issued my French book, the United States had not then +entered the contest. Their declaration of war against Germany, in the +spring of 1917, after the outrage of the sinking of the Lusitania, and +the numerous criminal provocations of the submarine campaign, clearly +emphasized, once more, what the Allies had been strenuously struggling +for from the outbreak of the hostilities. They had taken up the gauntlet +savagely thrown to them, declaring to the world that they would battle +to the last to put an end to German militarism, always threatening +general peace, to protect the small nations, notably Belgium and Servia, +against the onslaught of mighty and tyrannical conquerors, to save +Humanity, Civilization and Freedom from the crushing ascendency of +autocratic rule. The great American Republic rallied with them to the +defence of this most sacred cause. Need I refer to the numerous and +eloquent messages of President Wilson, to the writings of the American +press, and to the declarations of all the leading public men of the +United States, in both Houses of Congress, or before public meetings, in +support of the contention which was proved beyond controversy for all +fair minded men. + +Mr. Bourassa, whether from sheer misconception, or blindly carried away +by incomprehensible German sympathies, having their root in his +prejudiced hostility to England, could see no difference between a war +policy aiming at putting an end to Prussian militarism, and one having +for its object the dismemberment of the German Empire. Nor could he +conceive that fighting for human liberty was a nobler purpose than +struggling for autocratic tyranny. Though ever posing as the champion +of the small nationalities, he would not utter a word of sympathy for +martyred Belgium, barbarously conquered Servia, oppressed Poland, since +the beginning of the war. + +The great conflict once begun under so terrific conditions, every one +somewhat posted with the immense resources of the belligerents, their +respective warlike spirit and enduring qualities, could easily foresee +that, unfortunately, it was most likely to last for several years, the +contending parties being so far apart in their respective aspirations. +Elated beyond all reason by her triumph over France, in 1870, which had +for its first very important result the final creation of the German +Empire, proclaimed to the world from Versailles,--the bleeding heart of +her vanquished foe,--the new great Power, dominating Central Europe, +lost no time in setting all its energies to the task of perfecting the +most gigantic military organization ever seen. To all clear sighted men, +Germany could not be supposed to accept the heavy sacrifices required +for such an end with the sole purpose of maintaining peace. Further +conquests were evidently her inspiring aim. + +Who can forget how Humanity was staggered by the rapidity of the +onslaught of the Teutonic hordes let loose against nations whose +greatest wish was to keep the peace of the world? In a sudden rush, the +waves of the torrent overran Belgium and Northern France dashing direct +towards Paris. + +The wonderful plan of campaign, so scientifically conceived and matured, +could then be understood as it was boldly and powerfully developed. The +Berlin military staff, knowing that France was not sufficiently prepared +for the struggle, that England, if forced to intervene in honour bound, +by the criminal violation of Belgium's neutrality, would require a +couple of years to organize an army of millions of men, decided to +strike the first blow with such an overpowering strength as to conquer +Belgium in a victorious run and crush France out of the fight. A couple +of months were to be sufficient to that most coveted end. Meantime +Austria was to face and resist the Russian attack, to allow Germany the +necessary time to settle victoriously the western part of the campaign, +so cleverly planned and successfully carried out, before transferring +her glorious legions to the Eastern theatre of the war. Russia was not +supposed to be able to properly organize her armies in less than many +months, when it could no longer expect to triumph over the enthusiastic +Huns. + +In the depressing darkness of those anxious days, the great Marne +victory came like the brilliant sun piercing the heavy clouds, pledging +final success as the reward of the persevering courage and heroism to be +long displayed to deserve it. Germany's first dream of conquering +universal domination by military operations even overshadowing those of +the illustrious Napoleonic Era, and of Cæsar's marvellously laid deep +foundations of Roman grandeur, was shattered to pieces. + +Before the Teutonic armies could be reorganized for another great +offensive, England's forces and those of her Colonies would be in a +position to enter the struggle; France's resources would be brought to +bear with all their strength; Italy would break away from the Central +Empires and heartily join the Allies. + +Then the conflict turned to that weary trench fighting which to the +sadness of its trials added new evidence of the inevitable lengthening +of the war. No wonder that the longing for peace was intensified under +the pressure of conditions becoming more and more trying. Without doubt +all true friends of human prosperity and happiness, in their limited +possible worldly measure, were fervently praying to God in favour of the +restoration of harmony between the warring Nations. But they saw with +undeniable clearness that there were two essential--sine qua +non--conditions to the peace of the future. To be of any value it must +be _Just_ and _Durable_. If it could become permanent, much more the +better. + +Unfortunately, outside the legions of the true friends of an honourable +peace, there were found, in the Allied countries, faint hearted men +getting tired of the worries and sacrifices consequent upon the +prolonged struggle. The moment they began to show their hands, was the +signal for the ultra Revolutionists of Russia, finally organized into +the disastrous bolshevikism, for the paid traitors of France, for the +disloyal elements of the British Empire, to rally around them to set in +motion, with accrued force, a current of opinion clamouring for peace +almost at any price. To quiet this unpatriotic longing of the +disheartened, the political leaders of the Allies publicly explained +their war aims, positively affirming that their objective was that _Just +and Durable_ peace to which alone they could and would agree. + +Canada had also her _pacifist_ element. So far as the French Canadians +were concerned, it was, though small in numbers, almost entirely +recruited in the ranks of the supporters of "_Nationalism_." I feel I +must explain that our "_Nationalism_," as it has been repeatedly +propounded, does not in the least represent the sound views of the very +large majority of my French Canadian countrymen. + +As was to be expected, Mr. Bourassa was again the outspoken organ of our +French Canadian _pacifists_. He laid great stress on what he gave out as +a fact: that if peace negotiations were not at once entered upon and +brought to a successful conclusion, it was on account of the Allies' +unreasonable claims, pointing especially to England's determination not +to surrender her supremacy on the high seas, to develop more and more +what he termed her _imperialism_ for the purpose of dominating the world +_economically_. + +In my French work, I strongly took issue with the views of our +_pacifists_ as expressed by their leader and their press. Addressing my +French Canadian countrymen on the bounden duties of all loyal British +subjects, it was my ardent purpose to tell them the plain truth. +Writing, as I did, in 1916, I was then, as I had been from the very +beginning, firmly convinced that the conflict would be of long duration, +that it was very wrong--even criminal if disloyally inspired--for any +one to delude them by vain hopes, or deceive them by false charges. + +Having some knowledge of military strategy and tactics, I saw with the +clear light of noon day that, despite the gigantic efforts put forth by +the Allies, and the admirable heroism of their armies--our Canadian +force brilliantly playing its part--final victory would be attained only +by indomitable perseverance, both of the millions of fighting men and of +the whole Allied nations backing them to the last with their moral and +material support. That profound conviction of mine I was very anxious to +strongly impress on the minds of my French-Canadian readers, imploring +them not to be carried away by the "Nationalist" erroneous pretentions +that peace could easily be obtained, if the Allies would only agree to +negotiate. I told them plainly, what was absolutely true, that the war +aims of Germany were so well known and inadmissible that there was not +the least shadow of hope that peace negotiations could lead to a +reasonable understanding realizing the two imperious conditions of +_Justice and Durability_ in a settlement to which all the Allies were +in honour pledged. I explained to them that it was no use whatever to be +deluded by expectations, however tempting they might appear, because +under the then conditions of the military situation--time and events +have since brought no favourable change but quite the reverse--there was +not the slightest chance of an opening for a successful consideration of +the questions to be debated and settled before the complete cessation of +the conflict. There was only one conclusion to be drawn from the +circumstances of the case, and, however sad to acknowledge, it was that +the fight must be carried on to a final victorious issue, any weakening +of determination and purpose being sure to bring about humiliating +defeat. + + +THE ONLY POSSIBLE PEACE CONDITIONS. + +Whenever representatives of the belligerents shall meet to negotiate for +peace, there will of course be many questions of first class importance +to consider and discuss. But the one which must overshadow any other and +of necessity carry the day, is that peace must be restored under +conditions that will, if not forever, at least for many long years, +protect Humanity and Civilization against a recurrence of such a +calamity as ambitious and cruel Germany has criminally imposed upon the +world. I urged my French Canadian readers to consider seriously how +peace due to a compromise, accepted out of sheer discouragement, would +soon develop into a still more trying ordeal than the one Canada had +willingly and deliberately undertaken to fight out with the Allies. I +forcibly explained to them that if the present war did not result in an +international agreement to put an end to the extravagant and ruinous +militarism which, under Prussian terrorism, was proving to be the curse +of almost the whole universe, all the sacrifices of so many millions of +lives, heroically given, of untold sufferings, of so much treasures, +would have been made in vain if Germany was allowed to continue a +permanent menace to general tranquillity. + +It was a wonder to me that any one could fail to understand that an +armed peace would be only a truce during which militarism would be +spreading with increased vigour and strength. It was evident--and still +daily becoming more and more so--that Germany would only consent to it +with the determination to renew, on a still much larger scale, her +military organization with the purpose of a more gigantic effort at +universal domination. + +Then was it not plain that labouring under the inevitable necessity of +such an international situation, the Allied nations,--the British Empire +as much as France, the United States and Italy--would by force be +obliged to make the sacrifices required to maintain their military +systems in such a state of efficiency as to be always ready to face +their ambitious foe with good prospects of success. Such being the +undeniable case, I affirmed--I am sure with the best of reasons--that +Great Britain could not return to her ante-war policy of the enlistment +of only a small standing territorial army, trusting as formerly to her +Naval strength for her defence and the safe maintenance of her prestige +and power. Like all the continental nations, England would have to incur +the very heavy cost of keeping millions of men always fully armed. + +I firmly told my French Canadian countrymen that it was no use deluding +themselves with the "Nationalist" notion that peace being restored under +the above mentioned circumstances, the British Colonies would not be +called upon to share, with England, the burdens of the extensive +military preparations necessitated for their own safety as well as for +that of Great Britain and the whole Empire. The very reasons which had +prompted Canada and all her sister Dominions to intervene in the present +war, would surely induce them to cooperate with the Mother Country to +maintain a highly and costly state of military preparedness in order to +be ever ready for any critical emergency. + +Could it be believed that after the sad experience of the actual +conflict, the Allied nations--Great Britain perhaps more than any +other--would blindly once again run the risk of being caught napping and +deceived by an unscrupulous and hypocritical enemy, unsufficiently +prepared to at once rise in their might to fight for their very +national existence and the safety of Mankind against tyrannical +absolutism. If such abominable pages of History as those that for the +last four years are written with the blood of millions of heroes +defending Human Freedom were, by fear of new sacrifices, allowed to be +repeated, shame would be on the supposed civilized world having fallen +so low as to bow to the dictates of barbarism. Let all truly hearted men +hope and pray that no such dark days shall again be the fearful lot of +Humanity. Let them all resolve that if the world can at last emerge free +from the present hurricane, they will not permit, out of weakness and +despondency, the sweeping waves of teutonism to submerge Civilization +and destroy the monuments of the work of centuries of the Christian Art. + +After showing the dark side of the picture, and what would be the +fearful consequences of a German victory, or of an armed peace pending +the renewal, with still much increased vigour and resources, of the +conflict only suspended, I explained to my French Canadian readers the +great advantages to be derived by all, Germany included, from the +restoration of peace carrying with it the untold benefits to be derived +from the cessation of extravagant military organization, yearly +destroying the capital created by hard work and the saving of the +millions of the working populations. If an international agreement could +be arrived at by which militarism would be reduced to the requirements +of the maintenance of interior order and the safeguarding of +conventional peace amongst the Powers, then many long years of material +prosperity, in all its diversity of beneficial development, would surely +follow. Canada, like the other British Colonies, would not have to incur +any very large expenditure for military purposes, devoting all her +energies to the intelligent building of the grand future which her +immense territorial resources would certainly make, not only possible, +but sure. + +How much could material development be conducive to intellectual, moral +and religious progress, if the Nations of the Earth would only sincerely +and permanently abide by the Divine teachings of Christianity. + +Considering all the conditions of the military situation, at the end of +the summer of 1916, I clearly perceived the imperious necessity of the +Allies--Canada as well as all her associates--to fight to a finish. That +duty I did my best to impress on the minds of the French Canadians. +Events have since developed in many ways, but they all tend to +strengthen the conviction that ultimate victory will only be the price +of unshaken perseverance, of undaunted courage, of more patriotic +sacrifices. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +JUST AND UNJUST WARS. + + +In one of his pamphlets Mr. Bourassa favoured his readers with his views +on the justice and injustice of war. He affirmed that a Government could +rightly declare war only for the three following objects:-- + + 1.--For the defence of their own country. + 2.--To fulfill the obligations to which they are + in honour bound towards other nations. + 3.--To defend a weak nation unjustly attacked. + +I have no hesitation to acknowledge the soundness of those principles, +as theoretically laid down. I took the "Nationalist" leader at his own +word, wondering more than ever how he could refuse to admit the justice +of the cause of the Allies. + +Looking at the case from the British standpoint, was it not clear as the +brightest shining of the sun that England had gone to war against +Germany for the three reasons assigned by Mr. Bourassa as those which +alone can justify a Government entering a military struggle. + +Great Britain was by solemn treaties in honour bound to the defence of +Belgium whose territory had been violated by Germany, the other party +to those treaties which she threw to the winds contemptuously calling +them "_scraps of paper_." + +Even outside of all treaty obligations, it was England's duty, according +to the third principle enunciated by Mr. Bourassa as authorizing a just +declaration of war, to rush to the defense of Belgium, a _"weak nation" +most dastardly attacked by the then strongest military Power on earth_. + +The British Government, being responsible for the safety of the British +Empire, would have been recreant to their most sacred duty, had they +failed to see that if the German armies were freely allowed to overrun +Belgium, to crush France and vanquish Russia, Great Britain and her +Colonies, unprepared for any effective resistance as they would have +been, had they remained the passive onlookers of the teutonic conquest +of continental Europe, would have been the easy prey of the barbarous +conquerors. Consequently, in accepting the bold challenge of the Berlin +Government, that of England also did their duty for the defence of Great +Britain and the British Empire. + +But the whole British Empire being at war with Germany for the three +above enumerated causes combined, were the free autonomous Colonies of +England not also in duty bound to help her in vindicating her honour and +theirs, and to do their utmost to support the Mother Country in her +efforts to oblige the Berlin Authorities to respect their treaty +obligations! Were they not also in duty bound to participate with +England in the defence of invaded weak, but heroic, Belgium! Were they +not in duty bound to at once organize for their own defence, sending +their heroic sons to fight their enemy on the soil of France, instead of +waiting the direct attack upon their own territories! + +The British Parliament dealing exclusively with the Foreign Affairs of +the Empire, the international treaties which they ratify are binding on +the whole Empire. If such a treaty is violated by the other party or +parties who signed it, violently obliging England to stand by her +obligations, are not the Colonies also bound to uphold the Mother land +in the vindication of her treaty rights?! + +Looking at the same question, in the full light of the sound principles +of the justice of any war, from the German standpoint, what are the only +true conclusions to be drawn? To satisfy Austria's unjust demands and +maintain peace, Servia had, in 1914, at the urgent request of England, +France and Russia, gone as far as any independent nation could go +without dishonour. Not only backed, but no doubt inspired, by the Berlin +Government, Austria would not consent to reduce by an iota her unfair +pretentions against Servia. + +It was plainly a case of a great Power unjustly threatening a weak +nation. Consequently, according to the "Nationalist" leader's +principle, Russia was right and doing her duty in intervening to +protect the menaced weak State. Instead of hypocritically resenting +Russia's intervention in favour of Servia, it was equally Germany's duty +to join with her to save this weak nation from Austrian unjust +challenge. Had it done so, Austria would certainly have refrained from +exacting from Servia concessions to which she could not agree without +sacrificing her independent Sovereignty. The Vienna Authorities backing +down from their unjust stand, there would have been no war. And Germany, +together with Russia, would have deserved the gratitude of the world for +their timely intervention, prompted by a clear sense of their duty and a +sound conception of their international right. + +It is well known how the very opposite took place. Russia, to be ready +for the emergency of the declaration of war by Austria against Servia, +ordered the mobilization of that part of her army bordering on the +Austrian frontier, answering to the Berlin request for explanations that +she had no inimical intention whatever against the German Empire, that +her only object was to protect weak Servia against Austria's most unjust +attack. The Kaiser's government replied by requesting Russia to cancel +her order for the mobilization of part of her army. And in the very +thick of this diplomatic exchange of despatches, whilst England and +France were sparing no effort, by day and night, to maintain peace and +protect Mankind from the threatening calamity, Germany suddenly threw +the gauntlet and declared war against Russia. + +Foreseeing clearly that France was consequently in honour bound to +support Russia, in accordance with her international obligations towards +that great Eastern Power--in strict conformity with the second principle +enunciated by Mr. Bourassa and previously quoted--, Germany took the +initiative of a second unjust declaration of war, and this one against +France. + +The military operations against France being very difficult, and +certainly to be very costly in a fearful loss of man-power, before the +strongly fortified French frontier could be successfully overrun, +Germany, after a most shameful attempt to bribe England into neutrality, +decided to take the easy route and ordered her army to invade Belgium's +neutral territory, in violation of her solemn treaty obligations. That +treacherous act filled the cup of teutonic infamy, and brought Great +Britain, and the whole British Empire, into the conflict. + +So Germany was guilty of the most outrageous violation of the three +sound principles laid down by the "Nationalist" leader qualifying a just +war against an iniquitous one, whilst England and France won the +admiration of the world by their noble determination to stand by them at +all cost. + +Still Mr. Bourassa, by an incomprehensible perversion of mind in judging +the application of his own loudly proclaimed principles, has not to +this day uttered one word openly condemning Germany's war policy and +eulogizing that of England and France. On the contrary, he has tried to +persuade his readers that both groups of belligerents were equally +responsible for the war, more especially giving vent to his, at the +least, very strange hostility to England and scarcely dissimulating his +teutonic evident sympathies. He never positively expressed his +disapproval of Austria's unjust attack against Servia, but condemned +Russia for her intervention to protect that weak country, concluding +that the Petrograd Government was the real guilty party which had thrown +the world into the vortex of the most deadly conflict of all times. + +One of the most damaging and unfair arguments of Mr. Bourassa was that +in intervening in the struggle, England was not actuated by a real +sentiment of justice, honour and duty, but was merely using France as a +shield for her own selfish protection. And when he deliberately +expressed such astounding views, he knew, or ought to have known, that +by her so commendable decision to avenge outraged weak Belgium, Great +Britain had at once, by her command of the seas, guaranteed France +against the superior strength of the German fleet, kept widely opened +the great commercial avenues of oceanic trade, the closing of which by +the combined sea power of the Central Empires, would have infallibly +caused the crushing defeat of France by cutting off all the supplies +she absolutely required to meet the terrible onslaught of her cruel +enemy. He knew, or ought to have known, that the navigation of the seas +being closed to her rivals by Germany, Russia would have been very +easily put out of the fight, her only available ocean ports, +Vladivostock and Arkhangel, through which supplies of many kinds, +especially munitions, could reach her eastern coast, at once becoming of +no service to her. + +He knew, or ought to have known, that if Great Britain had remained +neutral, Japan, Italy, Portugal, would not have declared war against +either Germany or Austria. + +As such consequences of British neutrality were as sure as the daily +rising of the sun, was I not right when I drew the conclusion that if a +shield there was, it was rather that of Great Britain covering France, +all her allies and even the neutral nations, with the protection of her +mighty sea power. With such a conviction, the soundness of which I felt +sure, I told my French Canadian countrymen that, for one, I would, to my +last day, be heartily grateful to England to have saved France from the +crushing defeat which once more would have been her lot, had she been +left alone to fight the Central Empires. Heroic, without doubt France +would have been. But with deficient supplies, with much curtailed +resources, with no helpful friends, heroism alone, however admirable and +prolonged, was sure to be of no avail against an unmatched materially +organized power, used to its most efficiency by the severest military +discipline, by national fanaticism worked to fury, and by soldierly +enthusiasm carried to wildness. + +In a single handed struggle with Germany, in 1914, France would have +been in a far worse position than in 1870. The extraordinary development +of the new German Empire--the outcome of the great war so disastrous to +France--in population, in commerce, in manufacturing industry, in +financial resources, in military organization, made her fighting power +still more disproportionate. To her wonderful territorial army, she +added her recently built military fleet, then much superior, in the +number of vessels carrying thousands and thousands of skilled seamen, to +the French one. Moreover Austria, with another fifty millions of people, +Bulgaria and Turkey, with more than thirty millions, were backing +Germany, whilst, in 1870, France had only Prussia to contend with. + +All those facts staring him like any one else, how could Mr. Bourassa +reasonably charge Great Britain with using France merely as a tool for +her own safety. Under the circumstances of the case, such a preposterous +assertion is beyond human comprehension. I, for one, cannot understand +how he failed to see that, had England been actuated by the selfish and +unworthy motives to which he ascribes her intervention in the war, she +could have then, and at least for several years, wrought from Germany +almost all the concessions she would have wished for. Could it not, by +an alliance with the Central Empires, have attained the goal of that +dominating ambition which the "Nationalist" leader asserts to be her +most cherished aim. + +But such a dishonourable policy England would not consider for a single +moment. She indignantly refused Germany's outrageous proposals, stood by +her treaty obligations, and resolutely threw all the immense resources +of her power in the conflict which, at the very beginning, developed +into a struggle for life and death between human freedom and absolutist +tyranny. + +I am sure, and I do not hesitate to vouch for them, all the truly loyal +French-Canadians--they are almost unanimously so--are like myself +profoundly grateful to Great Britain for her noble decision to rush to +the defense of Belgium and France in their hour of need. Comparing what +took place with what might have been, moved by all the ties of affection +that will ever bind them to the great and illustrious nation from which +they sprung, they fully appreciate the inestimable value of the support +given by their second mother-country to that of their national origin. +They ardently pray that both of them will emerge victorious from the +great conflict to remain, for the good of Mankind, indissolubly united +in peace as they are in war. + + +A "NATIONALIST" ILLOGICAL CHARGE AGAINST ENGLAND. + +Our Nationalists, after charging England with using France merely as a +shield against Germany, have been illogical to the point of reproaching +her for not having intervened in favour of her close neighbour, in 1870. +It is most likely that, had she done so, they would have pretended that +she would have been actuated by the same selfish sentiment that prompted +her, for the only sake of her own protection, to enter into the present +conflict. + +How is it that Mr. Bourassa, so fond of charging England with ambitious +views of constant self-agrandizement, of worldly domination, can +suddenly turn about and accuse her of having shamefully sacrificed +France, in 1870, to the overpowering German blow? + +The circumstances of the two cases--1870 and 1914--were very different. +The conflict of 1870 had, apparently at least, a dynastic cause. The +House of Hohenzollern had been intriguing to have a Prussian prince of +her own elevated to the Spanish Throne. The Imperial Government of +Napoleon III strongly objected to such a policy. The diplomatic +correspondence which ensued did not settle the difficulty. France +declared war against Prussia. Many years later it was discovered that by +a falsified diplomatic despatch, Bismark had succeeded in his satanic +design to bring the government of Napoleon III to attack Prussia, thus +shamefully throwing upon France the responsibility of the war. + +In 1870, England was at peace with all the European Powers, as she had +ever been since 1815, with the only exception of the Crimean War. During +the diplomatic correspondence that led to the hostilities, what reason +would have justified England to break her neutrality? What would the +present critics of her course have said if she had sided with Prussia? +Would they have pretended that she would have used Prussia as a shield +against France? + +I personally remember very well the tragic events of the terrible year, +1870. The crushing military power of Prussia as proved by the triumphant +march of her victorious armies, was a revelation for all, for France +still more than for others. True Prussia had beaten Austria in the short +campaign ended at Sadowa. The Prussia France was then fighting was not +the giant Empire against which she is battling with such heroism for the +last four years. France was at the time the leading continental Power. +The general opinion was, when war was suddenly declared, that France +would easily triumph over her enemy. + +It must not be forgotten that, in 1870, England was even less ready than +in 1914 to engage in a continental conflict. Her standing army was not +large, and then partly garrisoned in the colonies. Some of her best +regiments were stationed in Canada. She could have been a really +important ally of France only as a strong support of another continental +power joining with her against Prussia, for instance Russia or Austria, +or both of them. + +If England had been able to send 500,000 men in a few days to the very +heart of France, incessantly followed by another half million, it is +almost certain that the Prussian army would not have entered Paris. But +England had not that million of trained men. It would have taken at +least a year to organize such a large army. + +I will speak my mind openly. After Sedan, any attempt at saving France +by force would have been vain and useless. Even Russia and Austria were +unprepared for such a task. Their intervention, coming too late, would +most likely have given Prussia a chance to win a much greater victory. +France out of the struggle, Prussia would then have had the opportunity +to achieve, as early as 1870, what she has ever since prepared for, and +tried to accomplish by the war she has brought on in 1914. + +What then becomes of the "Nationalist" pretention that Great Britain has +ever been aiming at dominating the world, when it is so easy to +understand that without a very large territorial army, which she +persistingly refused to organize, she was unable to take an important +part in any continental war. The days were passed, after the +extraordinary development of Prussian militarism, when she could +brilliantly hold her own on the continent with a small standing army +backed by generous subsidies to the European powers. The present war is +surely proof evident of it, since England, instead of the two hundred +thousand men she was expected to send over to France, as her man-power +contribution, has had to raise a total army, with all the auxiliary +services, of 6,000,000 officers and men, exclusive of the 2,000,000 +contributed by the whole British Colonial Empire. + +The Nationalists accusing England to have abandoned France to her sad +fate, in 1870, was only another instance of their campaign to arouse the +feelings of the French Canadians against Great Britain. + + +OTHER "NATIONALIST" ERRONEOUS ASSERTIONS. + +Mr. Bourassa has had his own peculiar way of explaining the real +determining cause of the war. Some men are--by nature it is to be +supposed--always disposed to judge great historical events from +considerations inspired by the lowest sentiments of the human heart. In +the "Nationalist" leader's view, the great war was brought about by the +treacherous alliance of British and German capitalists speculating +together, in actual partnership or otherwise, in the production of war +material: cannons, rifles, munitions, war shipbuilding, &c. + +In my humble opinion, such views are lowering to a very vulgar and +lamentably repulsive cause--if it could be true--events of immense +significance, the result, on the one side, of criminal aspirations +which, however guilty they may be, have not yet been degraded to the +profound depth of abjection they suppose; on the other, by the most +noble sentiments which can inspire nations to make the greatest +sacrifices to avenge outraged Justice and Right. + +Autocratic German ambition, such as it has proved to be, is bad enough. +Still the cause of the war, such as asserted by Mr. Bourassa, would have +been far worse. National aspirations, however wrongly diverted from +their legitimate conception, will never be as contemptible as the nasty +greed of individual speculators treacherously sucking the very life +blood of their countrymen for the sake of squeezing millions of dollars +at the cost of their country's honour and future. + +Unfortunately, illegitimate "profiteering" has taken place in the course +of every war. Of course it must be severely condemned and firmly +prevented, to the utmost, by governmental authority strongly supported +by public opinion which must, however, be cautious not to be unduly +influenced and carried away by the wild charges of some who denounce +others with so much apparent indignation for the only reason that they +themselves are not succeeding as they would like to do in their +speculative attempts. + +Illegitimate "profiteering" is one of the deplorable effects of a war; +it is never its real cause. + +What are the true causes, humanly speaking, of the cataclysm so +violently shaking the world? They were of two kinds. The first was the +disordered ambition of a nation having reached, by prodigious efforts, +such a power that she fatally determined to dominate everywhere, +militarily and politically. To this first cause was added that of +secular race rivalry. + +The two causes of the first kind--which can properly be called +_offensive_, were followed by the noble one of the resistance to +oppression, of the defence of the honour of threatened nations, of the +energetic determination to avenge violated international treaties, and +to save the civilized world from a new barbarous invasion. + +If the Allies had humbly bowed to the odious German claims, there would +have been no war. + +Consequently, the two evident causes of the war are, on the one hand, +German ambition to universal domination; on the other, the absolute +necessity on the part of the Allies to prevent by all possible means the +success of such a tyrannical enterprise. + +However much guilty they have been in bringing on the most terrible war +of all times, it is still injurious for the Berlin Government to suppose +that in assuming this weighty responsibility, they were playing the part +of an unconscious instrument of the most diabolical thirst of money +making by shameless "profiteers." + +But such a charge is absolutely inexplicable when one accuses France, +England and Belgium to be, in their admirable and heroic campaign for +the world's deliverance and freedom, the pliant tools of contemptible +speculators in the production of war materials. + +Governments and nations are, as a rule, far from having dropped to such +a low state of incurable corruption. For many of them, there yet exists +bright summits, shining with the clear light of Justice, Right and +Honour, which in those times of sufferings and burning tears, are the +pledge of better days and the promise of the world's resurrection. + + +INCREDIBLE "NATIONALIST" NOTIONS. + +Can it be possibly believed that the "Nationalist" leader has asserted +that when the British capitalists and bankers invested the savings +entrusted to their safe keeping, they were principally actuated by the +desire to create in Canada a financial influence which would, in due +course, assist with force in dragging the Dominion to participate in the +Imperial wars against her better judgment? Yet, so he has positively +written and developed the wild argument. + +Any man, with the slightest business experience, knows that, in all +cases, would-be borrowers go where money is to be lent. I have not yet +learned that one of them ever went to the North Pole in search of +millions for railway building and all kinds of industrial and commercial +enterprises. Daring explorers who ventured thither, facing so many +risks, were stimulated by a laudable thirst of fame and the desire of +scientific progress. They did not imagine, for a moment, that they were +likely to discover, in these far away regions, great financial markets +amply provided with millions of accumulated capital waiting for safe and +profitable investments. + +Canada, a young country, as large as all Europe in territorial extent, +with wonderful undeveloped resources of the agricultural soil, of the +mines, of immense forests, of mighty rivers, of large and breezy lakes, +could not progress without labour and capital. The large natural +increase of the population, supplemented by immigration, was sure to +supply the labour. Capital, to the amount of hundreds of millions, could +not be provided by the only savings of our people. Immigration of +capital was even more pressingly required than that of men. The +Governments of Canada, federal and provincial, city corporations, +railway companies, industrial concerns, wanting money, all went where it +could be found. It happened that London, the capital of the British +Empire, was by far the largest financial market of the world. No wonder +then that instead of going to Lapland, Canadian borrowers crowded in +London, where they met with those of nearly all the nations of the +world, gathering in the same city for the same purpose. + +Two incontrovertible economical truisms are, without the shadow of a +doubt, the following:-- + +1. That a would-be borrower wishes to get the money he wants in the +easiest way at the lowest interest charge; + +2. That a wise lender wishes to secure for his money the safest +investment carrying the highest possible rate of interest; the rate of +interest being however subordinated, in his mind, to the safety of the +investment. + +Such were the sound economical considerations which settled for the +Canadian borrowers of all sorts, and the British investors, the +conditions of all the loans made on Canadian account. + +Any one merely hinting to the British saving public that the money +invested in Canada was sent over to our shores for the object of +creating a financial influence which would force the Dominion into +costly wars, could not have adopted a more unwise course to destroy the +best chances of the success of a loan. Canadian credit was of first +class order, because the British investors knew our grand possibilities; +because they were aware that Canada had always been a safe debtor, +honouring with clock regularity her interest charges and the payment of +maturing loans; because also, and in a very large measure, they realized +that we were not in the same position of so many nations of the Old +World, exposed to frequent warring necessities likely to exhaust our +means and to jeopardize our bright prospects. + +Confidence being the sound basis of good credit, we got all the money we +wanted for all the purposes of our national economical development, the +true interest of Canada and of Great Britain being equally well served +by the financial intercourse between the wealthy mother-country and her +progressive colony. + + +CANADIAN FINANCIAL OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Our "Nationalists," so eager to discourage Canadian effort in the war, +and, with this object, always prone to magnify German warlike +achievements and the difficulties confronting the Allies, were rather +nervous at the increasing prospects of the United States joining the +_Entente_ Nations. Their leader seized every opportunity to argue that +they would be mistaken in doing so. During the weary months when the +President of the neighbouring Republic was prudently feeling his way +before taking the bold stand which he has ever since so brilliantly and +bravely upheld, the "Nationalists", through successive ups and downs in +their expectations, could scarcely help hiding their desire that the +United States would not intervene in the struggle. Those of us who had +not been moved by the horrors of the Belgian invasion, by the murder of +so many innocent victims of teutonic savageness, by the brutal killing +of Edith Cavell, by the Armenian massacres, by the wanton destruction +of admirable works of Art, could not be expected to thrill at the +barbarous sinking of the Lusitania, sending to the bottom of the ocean +hundreds of American citizens of the neutral American Northern Republic. +They were anxious that the Washington Government should condone the +outrageous offence and all the subsequent ones perpetrated by the German +submarines against our neighbours. How much they were dismayed at the +sudden close of Mr. Wilson's apparent hesitation, and at the proud +declaration of war from Washington to Berlin. Though rejoicing at it, +they did not consider that the Russian bolsheviki's collapse could +compensate for the additional military and financial resources the +Allies were sure to derive from the United States participation in the +war. + +Canada having to borrow many millions to sustain her warlike effort, and +the British money market being closed to further outside investments, +had two sources left for her successful financial operations: her own +market and that of the United States. The Washington Authorities had +generously decided to help financially the European Allies in pressing +need of money. The Ottawa Government, before making a grand appeal to +the Canadian public, applied to Washington for a loan. Mr. Wilson's +cabinet, however much they would have liked to meet the wishes of the +Canadian Government, had to answer that, having such a large war +expenditure to incur, and such big sums to collect to assist their less +wealthy European associates in the struggle, they could not see their +way to grant Canada's demand. + +Acknowledging the value of the reasons given for not complying with +their request, the Canadian Ministers then applied to Washington for the +permission to negotiate a loan in the open American market. This was +readily granted. + +It was, of course, well understood that going in the open market, +Canada, to secure the required sum of money, would have to pay the then +current rate of interest increasing, as usual, in proportion to the +increased pressure of the demand of funds. + +It is utterly incredible--but still it is true--that Mr. Bourassa did +denounce in his newspaper _Le Devoir_, the Ottawa Cabinet's action in +borrowing money from the American saving public. In severe terms he +blamed the Washington Authorities for not having lent millions to Canada +at the low rate of interest they had agreed to accept from France and +Italy. He asserted that this refusal on their part was a testimony of +ill-will against the Dominion. And in the most violent terms he charged +all those who favoured Canadian borrowings in the American market with +being traitors selling their country to the United States. + +It is hard to say whether the charge is not more ridiculous than +contemptible. It is the repetition, in an aggravated form of absurdity, +of the argument accusing the British investing capitalists to have had +for their only object in lending us their money to help coercing Canada +into the Imperial wars. + +Was Mr. Bourassa ignorant of the fact that the building of the +magnificent railway system of the United States, that their great +industrial development, were due to the billions of British capital +which for the last eighty years have flowed, in rolling waves, towards +the shores of the Republic, invading, in the most peaceful and friendly +way, her large territory, and drawing from its immense resources the +greatest immeasurable accumulation of wealth ever created by the labour +of man? I am not aware that any American writer ever ran the risk of +being crushed by ridicule in accusing all the United States borrowers in +the English market, governmental and others, of the hideous crime of +selling their country to Great Britain. It would have been sheer madness +to say so in the broad light of the marvellous economical progress of +our neighbours. They knew very well that the billions of dollars +invested by the British saving public for the development of their +territorial riches, were producing returns much larger than the rate of +interest paid to their British creditors. + +No one in the United States ever apprehended, for a single moment, that +because the Republic had borrowed enormous sums from Great Britain, she +was likely to lose her State independence through the financial +influence of the holders of her securities of all sorts. + +Such "Nationalist" notions, as above exposed and contradicted, can only +create very wrong and deplorable conclusions in the public mind, were +they allowed to follow their course without challenge and without the +refutation proving their complete absurdity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +"NATIONALIST" VIEWS CONDENSED. + + +After refuting at length the "Nationalist" theories, I thought proper to +condense them in a concrete proposition, and challenge their +propagandist to call a public meeting in any city, town, or locality, in +the Dominion,--Montreal for instance--and to find a dozen of citizens of +standing in the community, to consent to move and second a +"_Resolution_" embodying their doctrines. + +This condensed proposition, I translate as follows:-- + +"Whereas England has unjustly declared war against Germany; + +"Whereas Great Britain has done nothing to maintain the peace of the +world; + +"Considering that His Majesty King George V. _had not the right to +declare the state of war for Canada without the assent of the Canadian +Cabinet_; + +"Considering that Canada, as an autonomous colony, _is a Sovereign +State_; + +"Considering that British Sovereignty over Canada _is only a fiction_; + +"Considering that Canada, interfering in the present war, _should have +done so as a Nation_; + +"Whereas Canada should only have fought on her own account, like +_Belgium, Servia, Italy or Bulgaria_. + +"Whereas _the maintenance of a compact British Empire is the most +permanent provocation against the peace of the world_; + +"Considering that the supremacy of England on the seas is unjust; + +"Considering that Great Britain's aspiration, for a long time past, has +been universal domination by means of her military naval power; + +"Whereas England is unfair against France in using her as a shield +against German invasion; + +"Considering that England is exercising by all possible means a strong +pressure upon the Colonies for her only benefit; + +"Considering _that all the social leaders have united to demoralize the +conscience of the people, to poison their mind, to set their vigilance +at sleep, and to represent to them as a national duty what would +formerly have been considered as a betrayal of national interests_; + +"Considering _that England is trying to crush Germany, being afraid of +her colonial expansion and her maritime and commercial competition_; + +"Whereas our compatriots of the British races have many faults; _that +they are ignorant, assuming, arrogant, overbearing and rotten with +mercantilism_; + +"Considering that they have acquired _many of the worst vices of the +Yankees_; + +"Considering that Canada should never participate, outside of her own +territory, in the wars of the British Empire; + +"Considering that the Canadian Cabinet and Parliament are criminally +guilty of having ordered the organization of a Canadian army to go and +fight against Germany on the French territory, and in authorizing the +payment of the cost of this military expedition; + +"Be it "Resolved", that this meeting energetically protest against the +declaration of war against Germany by His Majesty King George V, +_without the assent of the Canadian Cabinet_, to defend Belgium's +territory invaded by Germany violating solemn treaties; + +"That this meeting is of opinion that, for the purpose of favouring the +restoration of peace as soon as possible, England should notify all the +Powers that she abdicates for ever her supremacy on the seas, which +supremacy Germany could hereafter safely exercise; + +"That this meeting being absolutely convinced that _the maintenance of a +compact British Empire is the most permanent provocation against the +peace of the world_, is strongly of opinion that Great Britain should, +in order to quiet the fears of the Nations friendly to peace and opposed +to militarism, like pacifist Germany, dissolve her Empire, at once +acknowledging the immediate independence of India and of all her +autonomous Colonies; + +"That this meeting's formal opinion is that the Canadian Parliament's +imperious duty is to order without delay the dissolution of the British +bond of connection, _which would be a public benefit_, and to proclaim +the immediate independence of Canada; + +"That a copy of the present "Resolution" be addressed to His Excellency +the Governor General, to the Members of the Federal Cabinet, to the +Senators and to the Members of the House of Commons." + +The italics in the above draft "Resolution" and "Preamble" are quoted +from Mr. Bourassa's writings. + +The "Preamble" and "Resolution" emphasize, in their true and complete +meaning, the "Nationalist" doctrines perseveringly propounded for years +past to poison French Canadian mentally. That such teachings can only +produce disloyal feelings, stir up national prejudices and hatred of the +Mother Country, and be most detrimental to the best interests of the +Province of Quebec, of the Dominion of Canada, and of the British Empire +as a whole, every one must admit with sadness. + +My challenge, which is still maintained, has not been taken up yet. All +may rest assured that it will never be. The most ardent "Nationalist" +knows that no responsible citizens would move the adoption of such +views. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +LOYAL PRINCIPLES PROPOUNDED. + + +To the foregoing "Nationalist" proposition, I opposed one condensing, in +a concrete form, the views and principles of the truly loyal Canadian +citizens. I also translate it as follows:-- + +"Whereas, since 1870, the German Empire had been a permanent menace +against the peace of the world by her threatening military policy; + +"Whereas England, throughout the same period, and more especially during +the twenty years previous to 1914, had done her utmost efforts to +maintain peace; + +"Considering that Great Britain had, in many ways, solicited Germany to +agree to the limitation of armaments, especially of the building of war +vessels; + +"Considering that she had persisted in her attempts with the German +Government to save the nations from the ruinous system of excessive +armaments, in spite of the latter's refusal to accede to her demands; + +"Considering that though in honor bound, like England, by three solemn +treaties, to respect Belgium's neutrality, the German Government have, +in August 1914, ordered their army to violate Belgian territory in +order to more easily invade France to which they had declared war; + +"Whereas Great Britain, in honour bound, could not permit the crushing +of Belgium by the German Empire; + +"Considering, moreover, that Germany, after mutilating and destroying +Belgium, by the deprivation of her independence, after triumphing over +France which she would have once again dismembered, would have +undertaken to beat England to deprive her of sea supremacy, in order to +obtain, by this last conquest, her domination over Europe and almost all +the world; + +"Considering that the defeat of England might very likely have resulted +in the cession of Canada to Germany; + +"Considering that the world at large is greatly interested in the +maintenance of England and France as first class Powers on account of +their services in favour of Human Civilization and Liberty; + +"Considering that the German armies have accompanied their military +operations with untold barbarous acts, by the murder of priests, of +peaceful citizens, of wounded soldiers, of religious women, of mothers, +of previously criminally outraged young girls, of old men, of young +children, with the destruction by fire and otherwise of Cathedrals, +Churches,--monuments of the Christian Art,--of libraries--sanctuaries of +Science--of historical monuments, the legitimate glory and pride of +Human Genius; + +"Whereas the German Government is guilty of the murder of thousands of +persons, men, women and children, by the sinking of merchant +vessels--the Lusitania, for instance--by its submarine ships, without +giving the notices required by International Law; + +"Whereas from the very beginning of the war, the Allied Nations, +England, France and Russia, have jointly agreed, in honour bound, to +require, as the essential peace condition, the cessation by all the +belligerent Powers of the crushing and ruinous militarism prevailing +before the opening of the hostilities, by the fault of Germany's +obstination to constantly strengthen her military organization both on +land and sea; + +"Considering that England and her Allies are struggling for the most +venerable and sacred cause:--_outraged Justice_--; that, being a +British Colony, _Canada is justly engaged in the present cruel and +deplorable conflict, for the defence of the Right and the true Liberty +of Nations; that our Canadian soldiers are valiantly fighting with those +of England, France and Belgium for the great cause of sovereign +importance--the protection of the world threatened by Germanism_; + +"Considering that England, to which the political life of Canada is +bound, and France, to which the French Canadians owe their national +existence, _have to fight for sacred interests in a war of endurance_ +requiring the incessant renewal of all the energies of the most ardent +patriotism, the victims of which falling on the field of honour have +the merit of giving their lives _for Justice_"; + +"Considering that, though wishing the restoration of peace as soon as +possible, and earnestly praying Divine Providence to favour the world +with the blessings of peace, more and more urgently needed after this +assault of abominable barbarism against Christian Civilization lasting +for the last four years, the Allies are absolutely unable to terminate +the war by giving their consent to conditions which would not protect +Humanity against the direst consequences of the militarism fastened by +the German Empire on the Nations so anxious to bring it to an end; + +"Be it "Resolved":-- + +"That this meeting approves of the free and patriotic decision of the +Federal Parliament to have Canada to participate in the so very Just War +which England, France, Belgium, the United States and Italy are fighting +against the German and Austrian Empires, allied in an effort to dominate +the world; + +"That this meeting's strong opinion is that, on account of the terrible +crisis menacing the British Empire and Civilization, it was the bounden +duty of Canada to intervene in the war for the safety of the Mother +Country and her own, for the salvation of Liberty and _of the sacred +cause of outraged Justice_; + +"That this meeting desires to express her admiration and profound +gratitude for the braves who enlist in the grand army which the +Canadian Parliament has ordered to be organized for the defence of the +cause of the Allies, which is also that of the civilized world; + +"That this meeting also concur in the opinion that Canada is in duty +bound to continue to participate in the present war until the final +victory of the Allies, which will guarantee to the world a lasting peace +and put an end to German militarism which has been the direct cause of +so much dire misfortunes for Humanity." + +The italics of the above draft "Resolution" are quoted from the writings +and speeches of leaders of French Canadian Roman Catholics. + +There was no need of calling meetings to adopt the preceding +"Resolution" with its well defined preamble. It had been approved, in +all its bearings, at the outset of the hostilities by the unanimous +decision of the Canadian Parliament, by the almost unanimous consent of +public opinion, by the religious, social, commercial, industrial and +financial leaders of the country. It had been so approved by the four +hundred thousand brave Canadians who rallied to the Colours; by the +subscribers, by thousands, to the national war loans. + +Since writing the above draft "Resolution", its full substance has been +almost unanimously approved by the Canadian people in general elections, +the two contending political parties entirely agreeing so far as the +Justice of the cause of the Allies was concerned, differing only as to +the best means for Canada to adopt to achieve final victory. + +Without entering into any considerations respecting the divergence of +the views of the leaders of political thought, in the still recent +electoral campaign,--from which it is more advisable for me to abstain +in the interest of the cause I am defending--I may be allowed to remark +that only a small remnant of the "Nationalist" element dared to reaffirm +his hostility to Canada's intervention in the conflict and to avow his +opinion _that the country had done enough_. + +What did those irreconcilable "Nationalists"--so few in numbers as the +event ultimately proved--mean by their assertion that _Canada had done +enough for the war_? According to its literal wording, it must have +signified that no more sacrifices should have been incurred for the +triumph of the Allied cause. If it was so, the conclusion to be drawn +from such sayings was that, to put an end to any further Canadian +contributions, orders should be given to bring back the Canadian Army +from Europe, and to send home all the forces still on Canadian soil. It +is plain that even if the new Canadian Parliament had decided not to +increase our contribution of man-power, in order to maintain the +efficiency of the Canadian divisions at the front, large sacrifices +would have had to be made to keep on the theatre of war the forces which +were still in the field. + +To refuse to participate in the war would have been deserting the flag +at the hour of danger, and a total misconception of our plain duty. + +Giving up the fight, once engaged in the struggle, before triumphant +victory, or irremediable defeat, in the very thick of the battle so +heroically carried on by the Allies, would have been sheer +cowardice--bolchevikism of the worst kind. + +Whether they meant it or not, those few "Nationalists" dared not openly +propose the recall of our troops. The solitary "Nationalist" candidate +who had the nerve to face the electorate was defeated by a very large +majority. + +No better proof of the weakness of the hold of the doctrines of +"Nationalism," on sound public opinion, is required than the decision of +its most outspoken advocate and leader, Mr. Bourassa, to refrain from +being a candidate in any constituency, and to advise all his supposed +friends to do likewise. No one was deceived, with regard to this +decision, by the reasons, or rather excuses, given to explain it. + +Evidently, if the "Nationalist" group and their leader had been +confident of the support of the large number of electors whose opinion +they pretended to represent, they would certainly not have lost the +chance to show their strength, and the opportunity to elect many +candidates of their persuasion to enter Parliament free from any party +allegiance but that of their own element. But any one somewhat posted +with the currents of public opinion in the Province of Quebec, knew very +well that if pure "Nationalist" candidates had been nominated in all +the constituencies of the Province, running between the regular party +nominees,--ministerial and opposition--the average number of ballots +cast for them would scarcely have reached ten per cent. of the French +Canadian votes, less than two per cent. of the whole Canadian +electorate. + +It was moreover highly probable that, had they tried the game, they +would not have even succeeded, in two-thirds of the constituencies, in +inducing citizens of sufficient standing to accept their nomination and +their political program. Once engaged in such a hopeless electoral +contest, they would have had either to humbly retire from the field, or +to await the doomed day by nominating men of no weight whatever. Both +alternatives would have led them to an equally disastrous defeat. + + +UNJUST "NATIONALIST" GRIEVANCES AGAINST ENGLAND. + +At the end of the very first page of Mr. Bourassa's pamphlet, +entitled:--_What do we owe England_?--in French:--Que devons-nous à +l'Angleterre?,--The following lines are found:--(_Translation._) + + British Imperialism, in its concrete and practical form, can be + defined in ten words: =the active participation by the Colonies + in the wars of England=. It is almost precisely the definition I + gave of it as early as the days of the African war. It is exact. + Considered from a larger point of view, from its profound causes + and far reaching consequences, British Imperialism calls for a + more ample definition. Its object is to have Great Britain + dominate the world by means of the organization and + concentration of all the Military Forces of the Empire--both Sea + and Land Forces--; it means the gradual annihilation, or at + least the enslaving of all the divers nationalities constituting + the British Empire, in order to bring about the World's + supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon race, of her thoughts, of her + language, of her political conceptions, of her commerce and her + wealth. Its object is to crush all competitions, all internal + and external oppositions. It is the German Ideal; it is the + Roman Ideal. It is the Imperialism of all countries, at all + times, enlarged to the limits of the monstrous pretensions of + Pan-Anglo-Saxonism. + +All the propositions of the above quotation do not bear, for one single +instant, the light of historical research, of reason, even of common +sense. + +I challenge Mr. Bourassa, and any one else, to read the speeches and the +writings of all those who have studied the great question of the future +of the British Empire, and to detect therein one single word to justify +the assertion _that the organization and concentration of all the +Military Forces of the Empire have for their object to help England to +dominate the world_. + +I have already abundantly proved that England never aspired to dominate +the world. I answered Mr. Bourassa's unfounded propositions as +follows:-- + +1--I will surely be allowed to say that for nearly the last fifty years, +I have done my best efforts to keep myself well informed with the +opinions expressed by the most authorized political men of the Mother +Country--of all parties--by the most renowned publicists, by the most +distinguished writers of the great English press. I have yet to read one +sentence leading me to suppose that the mind of any one of them was +haunted by the foolish hope of Great Britain's domination of the world. +Many of them have spoken and written to persuade their countrymen of the +growing urgency to consider the most effective measures to be adopted to +defend the Empire, in view of the efforts of other nations--notably +Germany--to strengthen their military organizations. No one advised them +to incur the most heavy sacrifices _in order to dominate the world_. +They had too much political sense to believe that such a ridiculous +scheme could ever be carried out. + +2--What the "Nationalist" leader calls British Imperialism never had for +its objective _the gradual suppression, or at least the enslaving of the +divers nationalities constituting the British Empire_. + +Such an assertion is nothing less than a stroke of the imagination which +recent history utterly refutes, proving, as it does, the very reverse, +as follows:-- + +A--The creation, by Imperial Charters, of the great autonomous federal +Canadian, Australian, South African Dominions. + +B--The federal system adopted for the Dominion of Canada purposely for +the protection of the French Canadians whose special interests are +entrusted to the Legislature of the Province of Quebec. + +C--The South African Union Charter is the guarantee of the Boers' +control of the future of that vast stretch of country, by means of the +two fundamental principles of the British constitutional +system:--government by the majority combined with ministerial +responsibility. + +No Empire in the world grants as large a measure of freedom as the +British Empire does, to the various national groups living under the +protection of her flag. + +3--British Imperialism, contrary to Mr. Bourassa's assertion, was never +deluded by the wild dream _of a world wide supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon +race, of her thoughts, of her language, of her political conceptions, of +her commerce and her wealth_. + +Surely, I have yet to learn that Great Britain has dreamt, and is +dreaming, to impose _by Force_ her "mentality," her language, her +political institutions to China, to Japan, to Russia, to France, to all +the South American Republics, to Italy, to Spain, to Germany, to +Austria-Hungary, to Turkey, &c., which, considered as a whole, +represent, any one must admit, a pretty large part of the universe. + +4--Mr. Bourassa's assertion that England aspires to dominate the world, +_economically_, _commercially_, is most positively contradicted by the +history of the last eighty years. Who does not know--and I cannot for a +moment suppose that Mr. Bourassa ignores it--that, nearly a century +ago, Great Britain, finally rallied in favour of a Free Trade Policy, +has opened her market free to the products of all the nations of the +world. Is that not a rather strange way of aspiring to an economical +domination! And whilst all the countries of the earth, the British +colonies as well as foreign nations, can freely sell their goods in the +British market, they protect their own markets by high customs +duties--in some cases almost prohibitive--against British goods. + +National commercial statistics are opened to the "Nationalist" leader's +perusal as to any one else. If he had referred to them, he would have +learned that the Foreign Trade of Great Britain, in 1913, the year +preceding the outbreak of the war, amounted to $7,017,775,335; exports +were valued at $3,174,101,630; imports totalized $3,843,673,695, +exceeding the exports by the large amount of $669,572,065. + +By looking at the figures, Mr. Bourassa would only have had to call upon +his common sense to draw the conclusion that England was certainly not +moving along an easy road to the commercial domination of the world by +maintaining a policy resulting in an import trade larger, by an annual +average of nearly twenty per cent., than her exportations. + +Before the war, Germany, by rapid strides, had succeeded in attaining +the second rank amongst the great trading nations, coming next after +Great Britain. In the same year--1913--her Foreign Trade totalized +$5,351,500,000, divided as follows:--Imports $2,801,675,000; exports +$2,549,825,000. + +The really wonderful industrial and commercial expansion of Germany, +during the last forty years previous to the war, offered another +opportunity to Mr. Bourassa to show his spite against Great Britain. He +would have been sorry not to make the best of it. Calling into play his +fertile imagination, he unhesitatingly charged England with deep rooted +jealousy of Germany's trade success and the guilty intent to crush it +out of existence. + +To this absurd assertion--not using the word offensively, being always +determined to be courteous in any discussion I engage--I answered by +quoting the figures of the reciprocal relative external British and +German trade. In 1913, Great Britain sold to Germany goods to the amount +of $203,385,150, and bought German products for a total value of +$402,055,285. Great Britain's exports to Germany were then only about +fifty per cent of her imports from the same market. It is indeed +difficult to detect in such trade relations between two nations any sign +of the intent, on the part of the country buying from the other double +the value of her sales to her, to dominate her people commercially. + +Any one knowing all the circumstances and the causes that imposed upon +Great Britain the duty of taking part in the European struggle, cannot +help being shocked at Mr. Bourassa's accusation _that England has +incidentally been brought into the conflict only through the frantic +desire of her business men to use it to crush the commercial competition +of Germany_. No serious men could have entertained such strange notions. +And the "Nationalist" leader certainly charged the political leaders and +the business community of England with sheer madness. + +With all right minded men, the world over, I have long ago reached the +sound conclusion that universal economical domination is only a +chimerical idea absolutely outside of all possible realization. England +does not indulge in any such extravagant dream, being too well aware how +vain it would be. + +May I ask my readers--and Mr. Bourassa has been one of them,--to join +with me in a short general review of the economical progress of the +world, in its broadest lines, rising, for this purpose, as should be +done in all cases, superior to all national and local prejudices. A +grand natural scenery is always better appreciated from the mountain +top. Equally so, questions of universal import must be considered from +the heights of the noblest principles inspiring the Christian desire to +promote the general good of Mankind. Considered from this elevated +standpoint, very short-sighted indeed is the man who fails to see THAT +THE ECONOMICAL PROGRESS OF THE WORLD, AGRICULTURALLY, INDUSTRIALLY, +COMMERCIALLY, IS BOUND UP WITH INTELLIGENT, ENERGETIC AND PERSEVERING +LABOUR; THAT IT IS THE OUTCOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS OF ALL THE MEANS OF +PRODUCTION, TO THE CONSTANT INCREASED PERFECTION OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND +INDUSTRIAL ARTS, TO THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE RESOURCES OF CAPITAL, +ACCUMULATED BY JUDICIOUS SAVINGS. It is bound with the improvement of +means of transportation by land and sea; with the much enlarged +facilities of the exchange of all kinds of products; with the superior +management,--the result of a much wider experience--of all the +institutions distributing credit; with the energetic development of all +the resources which generous Providence has profusely provided the +earth for the good of Humanity. It is more than useless to expect +economical progress from disastrous armed conflicts which, in the course +of a few years, nay, only a few months, destroy the accumulated wealth +of many years of incessant labour. + +War is productive of untold material losses. As a general rule, it +cannot make the nations of the world richer. Many successive generations +have for a long time to bear the crushing burden which they inherit from +guilty ambitious Rulers as the only result of their thirst of vain +glory. Materially, a nation may profit by an unjust war, resulting in +the defeat of a weaker rival, but the riches thus acquired by the one, +either by territorial acquisitions, or by the payment to her of war +contributions and indemnities, or both, from the other, are merely +transferred from the vanquished to the victor. The great society of +nations, instead of gaining anything by it, is only losing, as a whole, +the total amount of the financial cost of the military operations, of +the squandering of hard earned savings, of diminished labour and +production, of the waste of productive capital, of the loss of so many +long days which could have been so much better employed. But most +deplorable is the loss entailed by the warring nations, and the universe +at large, by the sacrifice of the younger generations, of early youth +and of strongly developed manhood, for the success of tyrannical and +criminal purposes. + +There can be but one justification--and it is a noble, a glorious +one--of the sacrifice of so many valuable lives and so much material +wealth: the sacredness, the sanctity of the cause for which a nation, or +a group of peoples, take up arms against an enemy, or enemies, only +intent on crushing weaker rival, or rivals, by all the illegitimate +means at his, or their command, for self-aggrandizement, for unjust +domination. Such is the present war: sacred and just on the Allied side; +abominable, brutal, barbarous on the German side, enhanced in its guilt +by the ferocious Turks and the shameful submission of the enslaved +Austrians to the overpowering will of their teutonic masters. It will +not have cost too much if it has the result of freeing Mankind from the +horrors of German militarism, assuring to the world a long reign of +justice and moral grandeur. + +England can rightly claim a very large part of the merit accruing to all +those who have contributed to the immense material progress of the world +during the last century. She has actively and most intelligently worked +for it by her vigorous industrial and commercial development, by the +very numerous billions of dollars she has contributed, all over the +world, to railway building and oceanic navigation. She has contributed +to it by her extraordinary amount of savings which allowed her to supply +the capital required for so many varied enterprises over all the +continents. She has played the very important part of universal banker, +distributing her immense treasures to foster production of all kinds +everywhere. She has most largely contributed to the economic phenomenon +of the gradual diminution of the universal rate of interest. + +If, according to Mr. Bourassa's strange notion, all this is to be +considered as equivalent to economical domination, the more the whole +world will enjoy it the better, more prosperous it will be, and future +generations will have so much more cause for rejoicing at its increased +development, and to be grateful to England for it. + +The witnesses who, for the last sixty years, have lived with their eyes +opened, preferring the full shining light of the bright days of +universal economical development to the darkness obscuring fanatical +minds only intent on stirring up local, sectional and national +prejudices, and miserable petty ambitions, have rejoiced at the greatly +varied advantages Humanity has derived from the gifts of Providence +favouring her with the great scientific discoveries which have worked, +are still, and will for all times, work wonders for her material +prosperity. The regular tendency of those natural forces recently +applied to production is an increased movement towards the unification +of the industrial, commercial and financial interests of the world. The +vital energies of all peoples have more or less been stimulated by the +same causes, operating everywhere, reaching until lately unknown and +undeveloped regions. Engineering genius, broadened by the new scientific +resources at its command, has triumphed over all difficulties. The +gigantic locomotive, drawing palatial passenger coaches, and sometimes +as much as a hundred heavily loaded freight cars, run by thousands and +thousands daily through luxurious prairies. They cross giant rivers, +ascend with alertness the highest mountains, or rush through tunnels +which the skill and hard work of man has pierced through them, backed by +the financial power of millions of money. Automobilism covers the whole +universe, multiplying intercourse and human relations, and making +possible, in a few days of marvellous organization, a glorious military +victory like that almost miraculously carried at the Marne. + +Giant steamers, of fifty to sixty thousand tons--of a hundred thousand +in the near future--ply, day and night, over the high seas. In +mid-ocean they scatter human thoughts through the air to very distant +points. They carry within their large skulls immense quantities of the +most varied products. + +Means of transportation have become so numerous, so improved, so rapid, +that the surplus agricultural production of the most fertile regions do +reach, in a few short days, the countries which, on account of their +numerous industrial and commercial population, have to import a large +quantity of food products. The equilibrium between production and +consumption becomes yearly more easily obtainable. Famine by the +inequality of agricultural production is very much less to be +apprehended. Millions of human beings are no longer, as hitherto, +threatened to die by starvation at the same time that more favoured +regions had a surplus of food products which they could not use, sell, +or export. + +Without a most powerful capitalization of savings--totaling, in some +cases, billions of dollars--without the marvellous development of the +great transportation industry by land and sea, could the Canadian and +American western grain crops be delivered, within a few days' time, with +an astonishing rapidity and at very small cost, on all the markets where +they are absolutely required for daily consumption. + +Every country on earth is multiplying her efforts to develop her +manufacturing interests by an active and intelligent use of the raw +materials with which her territory has been favoured by Nature. + +To this intense economical development of the world, all the peoples are +contributing their shares in various proportions, of course:--In Europe, +Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Austria, Italy, Belgium, &c.; in +the two Americas, the United States, Canada--Canada with the sure +prospects of such a grand future--the Argentine Republic, Brazil, &c.; +in Asia, Japan, China, and the so very large Asiatic regions of Russia; +in Africa, the British colonies, Egypt, Algeria, &c.; and Australia, so +recently opened to the glories of Christian Civilization, blooming in +the Pacific ocean washing her shores, fertilizing her lands nearer to +its refreshing breeze. + +Who does not see that all this development tends naturally to the +economical unity of the world. If Humanity is ever effectively delivered +from the dangers of wars like the one actually desolating her so +cruelly, she will have to be grateful for this great boon to the +unification, on a larger scale, of the general interests of all the +nations requiring permanent peace for their regular and harmonious +growth. + +To the wonderful material prosperity achieved as above explained, +England has contributed her legitimate share, without trying to dominate +economically the universe which derived all the great advantages which +her business genius has so largely developed. + +It must not be supposed that I lose sight of the inconveniences which +material prosperity may entail. One of them is the tendency to bend the +national aspirations to materialism. This can be counteracted by the +national will to apply material development to the more important +intellectual, moral and religious progress of the people at large. + +Any nation aspiring to dominate the world by brute force or by the power +of wealth, would be guilty of attempting an achievement just as vain as +it would be criminal in its conception. + +Any nation is within her undoubted right and duty in aspiring to the +legitimate influence of her material progress, of her intellectual +culture, of her moral development, of her religious increased +perfection. Happy indeed would be the future of Humanity if all the +Nations and their Rulers understood well, and did their best efforts to +practice Christian precepts in the true spirit of their Divine +teaching. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +IMPERIALISM. + + +Mr. Bourassa is apparently so frightened by what he calls _Imperialism_ +that the horrible phantom being always present to his imagination, he +shudders at it in day time, and wildly dreams of it at night. Judging by +what he has said and written, he seems to have worried a great deal, for +many years past, about the dire misfortunes which, he believed, were +more and more threatening the future of the world by the strong movement +of imperialist views he detected everywhere. It is the great hobby which +saddens his life, the terrible bugbear with which he is ever trying to +arouse the feelings of his French Canadian countrymen against England. + +The deceased British statesman, called Joseph Chamberlain, by his +efforts to promote the unity of the Empire, inspired Mr. Bourassa with a +profound fear which he wanted his compatriots to share by all the means +at his command:--public speeches, newspaper editorials, pamphlets. He +charged him with the responsibility of the _infamous crime_ he brought +England to commit in accepting the challenge of President Kruger and the +then South African Republic, and fighting for the defence of her +Sovereign rights in South Africa. According to the Nationalist leader, a +vigorous impulse was given by the South African war to the political +evolution which he termed _British Imperialism_. Nothing was further +from the true meaning of this important event. + +In refuting Mr. Bourassa's assertion, I showed that the South African +war was not the outgrowth of Imperialist ideas, and that it has in no +way resulted in a dangerous advance of the kind of Imperialism which so +much frightens him and all those who experience his baneful influence. + +As I have previously proved, the South African campaign was imposed upon +England by the then aspiration of a section only of Boer opinion, led by +the unscrupulous and haughty President Kruger, imprudently relying on +the support of the German Kaiser who had hastened to congratulate him +for his success in the Jameson Raid. It resulted not in favor of +Imperialism of the type so violently denounced by Mr. Bourassa, but in a +most beneficent expansion of Political Freedom by the granting of the +free British institutions to the new great South African overseas +Dominion. It is only the other day that ex-Premier Asquith, on the +occasion of a great public function, has declared that Premier Botha, +the former most prominent Boer General, was now one of the strongest +pillars of the British Empire. + +It being so important to set the opinion of the French Canadians right +respecting that question of Imperialism, so much discussed of late, and +by many with so little political sense and historical knowledge, I would +not rest satisfied with a refutation of the special Bourassist +appreciation of the causes and results of the South African conflict. I +summarized, in a condensed review, the divers phases of the political +movement which can properly be called _Imperialism_, tracing its origin +as far back as the organization of the first great political Powers +known to History: the Persian, the Egyptian, the Greek Empires, &c. More +than ever before, Imperialism was triumphant during the long Roman +domination of almost all the then known world. Every student of History +is impressed by the grandeur of the part played by the Roman Empire in +the world's drama. Constantine struck the first blow at Roman +Imperialism--unwillingly we can rest assured--in laying the foundations +of Constantinople, and dividing the Roman Empire into the Western and +Eastern Empires. At last, after repeated invasions, the Northern +barbarians succeeded in smashing the Roman Colossus. + +After many long years during which European political society passed +through the incessant turmoil of rival ambitions, Charlemagne sets up +anew the Western Empire, being coronated Emperor in Rome. Ever since, +amidst multiplied ups and downs, Imperialism has swayed to and fro by +the successive edification and overthrow of the Holy Roman Empire, the +short lived Napoleonic European domination, the recently organized +North German Empire. + +So far as Imperialism is concerned, all those great historical facts +considered, how best can it be defined? Is it not evident that from the +very birth of political societies for the government of Mankind, a +double current of political thoughts and aspirations has been +concurrently at work, with alternate successes and retrocessions: one +tending towards large political organizations, uniting a variety of +ethnical groups; the other operating the reverse way to bring about +their dissolution in favour of multiplied small sovereignties. Each of +the two opposing political systems has had its ebb and flow tides; the +waves of the one, in their flowing days, washing the shores of the other +until they had to recede before the pressure caused by the exhaustion of +their own strength and the increased resistance of internal opposition. + +Viewed from this elevated standpoint, Imperialism is not new under the +sun. It is as ancient as the world itself. Mr. Bourassa has been +uselessly spending his energy in breaking his head against a movement +which is in the very nature of things, developing the same way under the +same favourable conditions and circumstances. + +Are the days we live so fraught with the dangers of Imperialism as to +justify the fears of the alarmist? The answer would be in the +affirmative, the question being considered from the point of view of +Germany's autocratic Imperialism, if the free nations of the world had +not joined in a holy union to put an end to its extravagant and +tyrannical ambition. But how is it that Mr. Bourassa, the heaven-born +anti-imperialist, so frightened at the supposed progress of British +Imperialism, is so lenient towards Teutonic Imperialism? How is it that +from the very first days of the gigantic struggle calling for the most +heroic efforts of the human race to emerge safe and free from the +furious waves powerfully set in motion by the most daring absolutism +that ever existed, he has not thought proper to chastise as it deserved +the worst kind of Imperialism that he could, or any one else, imagine? + +Taking for granted that the present economical conditions of the +universe, likely to intensify, are working for great political +organisations, from the causes previously explained, any intelligent +observer could not fail to see that for the last century four great +imperialist evolutions have been concurrently--or rather +simultaneously--developing themselves; they were the British, the +Teutonic, the Russian, the Republican in the United States. Let no one +be astonished at seeing the two words _Imperialism_ and _Republicanism_ +coupled together. In their true sense, they are easily conciliated. + +The Roman Republic, by the grandeur of its part, was Imperialist as much +as the Empire to which she gave birth. Cæsar, without the imperial crown +was Emperor as much as August. He was more so by his genius, and by the +eminent position he had acquired by one of the most brilliant careers in +History. + +Bonaparte, General and First Consul, in the closing days of the first +French Republic, was Emperor as much as he became on the day of his +Coronation, at Paris, by the Sovereign Pontiff. + +Imperialism being a great historical fact through all the ages, and most +certainly destined to further developments, is it to be judged +favourably or alarmingly? + +No doubt the problem is of the greatest possible political importance. +The question can, I consider, be at the outset simplified as +follows:--Would the prosperity, the freedom, the happiness of the world +be better served by great political Powers, or by the multiplication of +small sovereignties? It is just as well, and even better, to admit at +once that a unique, a dogmatic, answer cannot be given to that question. +Independent nations, sovereign societies, are not created at will by +men, merely according to their fancy, to their variable and very often +undefined wishes. History teaches that they are the outgrowth of various +circumstances, of many divergent causes,--the most important, the one +inscrutable, being always the action of Divine Providence directing the +destinies of peoples as well as those of every human being. Different +causes produce, of course, different results. Large and small political +communities can surely be productive of much good for their +populations. Much depends upon the intelligence, the wisdom, the +devotion, the patriotism of the rulers and the governed. They can also +do much harm. Unfortunately, the readers of past events have too much +reason to deplore that both large and small political organizations have +been equally guilty of maladministration, of ambitious cupidity of their +neighbours' possessions, of unjust wars. As an uncontrovertible example, +can I not point to the present German Empire, whose origin dates back to +the days of the very small Prussia of two centuries ago, fighting her +way up to her actual greatness by successive, unfair, and often criminal +aggressions. + +After reading much of the history of past ages, I have not been able to +come to the conclusion--and the more I read, the less inclined I am to +do so--that the days when England, France, Central Europe, Italy, &c., +were subdivided into numerous small political organizations, almost +always warring, were preferable to ours, even darkened and saddened as +they are by the present trials and sufferings. + +If, on the other hand, the causes which at all times have tended to the +creation of large political sovereignties are gradually acquiring an +increased momentum of strength and activity, from the changed conditions +brought about by the great scientific discoveries so wonderfully +developing the commercial relations of the nations, is it not more +advisable to study the true nature of the evolution and the good it can +produce, rather than to shiver at the supposed prospects of an +Imperialist cataclysm so certainly to be averted if public opinion is +sound and Rulers wise. Crying on the shores of the St. Lawrence, against +the advance of the rolling waves, would not prevent the tide from +running up. The mad man who would try it, and persist in remaining on +the spot, displaying his indignant and extravagant protest, would surely +be submerged and drowned. + +Political developments, like many others, obey natural laws which no +true statesman can ignore nor overlook. Because the limits of a +political organization are extended, does it necessarily follow that +only deplorable consequences can be expected from their enlargement? +Surely not. One might as well pretend that unity, cohesion, strength, +grandeur, are only productive of baneful results. Is it not a certainty +that they can be equally beneficial or harmful, according to the +intellectual and moral qualities of those who are called upon to apply +them to the best interests of those they govern. + +German Imperialism, for instance, was not _per se_ a public misfortune. +It became such because instead of using its instrumentality for the +general good of the world as well as that of Germany, it was applied to +a barbarous and criminal purpose to satisfy unjust and senseless +aspirations. + +In the same years, all the resources of British Imperialism,--so +abhorrent to Mr. Bourassa and his Nationalist adepts who view with such +meekness the Teutonic type--have been brought into play for the freedom +of the world and the protection of the small nationalities--notably +Belgium. + +Bulgaria was a small State. Was it on this account less ambitious and +troublesome for its neighbours? Any one conversant with the recent +Balkan history knows that Bulgaria has from the start aspired to +dominate the Balkan States. When the Berlin Government struck the hour +which was to throw not only Europe, but three-fourths of the universe +into the worst horrors of war, has Bulgaria rallied to the defence of +her weak neighbour, Servia? Has she proved any sympathy for +treacherously crushed Belgium? + +I emphatically declare that I would oppose Imperialism with all my +might, if I thought that it is by nature a necessary producer of +absolutism, of autocratic tyranny. But, the British precedent considered +through all its beneficial developments, I must recognize that true +Imperialism is not incompatible with the just and wise exercise of +political liberty, with respectful protection of the rights and +conditions of the divers national elements under its ægis. + +I pray to remain to my last day a faithful friend of the political +liberties of the people. Knowing, as I do, how hard it is to apply them +to the government of nations--great or small--I am not bewildered by +vain illusions. But I cannot conceive--and never will--that the justice +of the real principles of Political Liberty is to be denied on account +of the difficulties of their satisfactory working, certainly obtainable +when applied in conformity with the dictates of moral laws owing all +their power to their Divine origin. + +The best political institutions which can work out such great advantages +for the populations enjoying them, are too often diverted from their +beneficient course by the vicious passions of those who are charged +with, and responsible for, their administration. It would be most +illogical to draw the inference that good institutions become bad by +their guilty management. + +Free and autocratic governments are essentially different in their +natural structure. Though liable to mismanagement by unscrupulous +politicians, free institutions can, under ordinary favourable +conditions, be trusted to be productive of much good for the peoples +living under their protection. Autocracy--the whole human history proves +it--by nature engenders absolutism. Crowned or revolutionary despots as +a rule are not imbued with the patriotism nor purified by the virtues +required for the good government of a country. Kaiserism, Terrorism and +Bolshevikism are equally despicable and unfit to contribute to the sound +progress which liberty, practiced by sensible and wise men, can develop. + +Reverting to the Nationalist bugbear, which does not in the least move +me to despair of Canada's future, I consider that Imperialism, sensibly +appreciated, is of two kinds: Autocratic Imperialism; Democratic +Imperialism:--Absolutism is the foundation stone of the former; +Political Liberty that of the latter. I am energetically opposed to the +first. I sincerely believe that the second can do a great deal for the +prosperity of the countries where it has regularly and justifiably been +developed according to the natural laws of its growth. + +Autocratic Imperialism, in contemporaneous history, is almost +exclusively typified by its Teutonic production. A general review of the +world shows that for the last century, and more, with one sad exception, +all the nations have been moving along the path leading to a greater +freedom of their institutions. Even Japan and China have joined in the +race. Russia had deliberately done so. Much was expected from her first +efforts, and much would certainly have been reaped in due course had not +the calamitous war still raging at first opened an opportunity for the +reactionary Russian element, strongly influenced by German intrigues, +spies and money, to check, through the Petrograd Court, the forward +movement of Russian political liberty, and to impede, for Germany's +sake, the success of the Russian military operations. Under those +circumstances--as was also to be expected--the advancing wave of the +aspirations of the great Russian people for more political freedom, was +bound either to recede before the autocratic outburst, or to rush +impetuously against the wall Germany was to her best helping to raise +against it. The latter prevision happened, history once more repeating +itself. + +Even barbarous Turkey, in recent years, had been somewhat shaken by a +sudden desire to remove some of her secular shackles. The young Turks +movement might have had some desirable results had the Ottoman Empire, +as every national and political considerations should have induced her +to do, sided with France and England. + +Germany is actually the only country in the world where Autocratic +Imperialism has been flourishing during the last century. We all know +the extent and the grievousness of the calamity it has wrought on the +universe. + +During the same last century, Democratic Imperialism--using the term in +its broadest and most reasonable meaning--has had two distinct +beneficial developments:--the Monarchical Democratic Imperialism, and +the Republican Democratic Imperialism. + +The Monarchical Democratic or free Imperialism--it is scarcely necessary +for me to say--is that of Great Britain. + +The Republican Democratic or free Imperialism is that of the United +States of America, of the Argentine Republic, of Brazil. + +Happily the two great and glorious countries which are favoured with the +advantages of the Democratic type of Imperialism are united in a grand +and noble effort to destroy the German Autocratic Imperialism in +chastisement of its criminal aspirations to universal domination. + +The two types of Democratic or free Imperialism--the Monarchical and the +Republican--can be better illustrated by a comparative short historical +study of their development in Great Britain and her colonies, and in the +United States. I summarize it as follows, beginning by the last +mentioned, as it requires a shorter exposition. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AMERICAN IMPERIALISM. + + +The still recent and wonderful growth of the two American continents, in +population and wealth, is almost an incredible marvel. It is none the +least politically. + +The two Americas, by the extent of their areas, the vastness of their +productive lands, the length and largeness of their mighty Rivers, the +broadness of their Lakes, the grandeur of their scenery, seem to be most +adapted to great developments of many kinds. It is difficult to think of +small conceptions originating in the New World, which the genius of +Columbus discovered and the combined genius of all the great races of +the Old are united in developing. + +Let me first put the question:--when the leading European nations +undertook to colonize the new Continents, were they not, consciously or +not, throwing the Imperialist seed in a fertile land where it was sure +to take root and blossom? Spain, France, and, last, England were +certainly not obeying the dictates of our "Nationalist school" when they +brought under their Sovereign authority such vast stretches of American +territory. + +That Christian Civilization was to be extended to the new great +Hemisphere, goes without saying. That the riches, then unknown, of the +New World, were to be extracted from the land so full of them, was one +of the duties of the discoverers, all will admit. The European +Governments in extending their Sovereignties to America unfortunately +adopted the mistaken Colonial Policy then still too much prevalent. +Their error was to stick to the wrong conception that a colony was +important only in the measure that it could be favourable to the +interests of the Metropolis. History proves that this colonial system is +bound to lead to unfair treatment of the colonies. Absolutism, then +dominant in Europe, could not be expected to show any tender leniency +towards the Colonials who were above all to work for the wealth and +glory of the Metropolis. Spain proved to be the worst promoter of that +Regime. Her failure has been most complete. She has had to withdraw her +flag from the very large part of America over which it might have been +kept waving, if sounder and more just political notions had prevailed in +the narrowed minds of her Rulers. + +England, treading along the wrong path of Colonial oppression, but in a +much less proportion, had to face a like result in the revolt of her +American Colonies. Fortunately for her, for America and the world at +large, the event widely opened her eyes. In acknowledging the +independence of the young Republic of the United States, she was +destined to be proud of her offspring in witnessing the astonishing +development of the child to whom she had given birth. Could she have +then foreseen that the day would come when at the hour of her dire +trial, the daughter who threw off her motherly authority, too +stringently exercised, would rush to her support for the defence of the +very principles of Political Liberty for which she, the child, had +fought for her independence, how soon would England have forgotten the +sufferings of the parting and blessed Providence for them! + +The American Revolution, successfully carried out, was the occasion for +England to revolutionize her Colonial Policy. She was the first +nation--and I am sorry to say she has remained alone--to understand with +great clearness that the old Colonial Regime, fraught with such +disastrous consequences, must be done away with and replaced by the new +one which called the colonies to the enjoyment, to the largest possible +extent, of the free institutions of the Mother Land. + +Like every new born child, whose laborious birth was critical, the +American Republic experienced great difficulties the very moment she +commenced to breathe freely. So true it is always that national +development, like personal success, cannot be achieved without struggle. + +The United States offer the example of the best development of the +Imperialist evolution in the world. It dates as far back as the +proclamation of the Independence of the Republic. When she was admitted +into the international society of Sovereign States, she had at first to +settle her political organization. The framing of a constitutional +charter proved to be a very arduous task, at times almost desperate. + +Three sets of divergent opinions were fighting at close range during the +protracted and solemn deliberations which at last reached a happy +conclusion. Thirteen American British Colonies had coalesced to wring +their Independence from England. The goal once attained, a first group +of opinion was favoured by the supporters of the dissolution of the +temporary union organized to secure the Independence of the whole, but +to revert, they said, if successful, to their previous separate status. +Had this view prevailed, at the very start North America would have been +cumbered with thirteen Sovereign States. Many were alarmed at the +creation of so many small Republics. More reasonable persons suggested +to organize three or four of them, instead of thirteen, meeting as much +as possible the wants natural to geographical conditions. It was no +doubt an improvement on the first mentioned scheme. It met with the +hearty support of devoted adepts. + +It is much to be hoped that they will forever receive from the +successive generations of their countrymen the reward of the gratitude +they deserve, the true statesmen who, at this important juncture, +stepped on the scene and bravely took their stand in favour of the +maintenance of the Union which had conquered Independence, and of the +establishment of only one great Republic. The celebrated Hamilton was +their trusted leader. They knew they were undertaking an herculean task. +At that time, the population of the thirteen original States, scarcely +four millions in number, was scattered over a vast territory, and +located, for the most part, on the lands near the Atlantic coasts, two +thousand miles in length, from North to South. Transportation was in a +very primitive stage. Many years had yet to run before the whistle of +the locomotive, powerful and struggling, would be echoed by the solitude +of immense forests. No one foresaw that, in less than a century, the +overflowing tide of European immigration would roll its waves so +powerfully as to cross the whole continent and the Rocky Mountains to +reach the coast of the Pacific Ocean. + +With such conditions, so unfavourable to the aspirations of only one new +Independent State, moulding together political groups so far apart, +interests apparently so hostile, the local point of view, local +prejudices, were sure to dominate. They inspired the strong current of +opinion in favour of the dissolution of the temporary Union, and the +organization of every one of the old provinces into a separate Sovereign +State. + +How, under such circumstances, the friends of a unique National American +Union succeeded in the marvellous achievement of carrying their point by +a prodigy of persuasive demonstration, will forever be a wonder for the +student of the Republic's history. Few in numbers when they boldly +threw their challenge, they encountered the shock of local fanaticism +heightened by their offensive. Everything seemed to predict their utter +failure. If ever Founders of States have proved the heroism of their +convictions, the American Federalists have most gloriously done so. +Undoubtedly, the force of the argument was with them. But what can +logic, reason, good sense, too often do against inveterate prejudices? +Were they, in this particular instance, destined to be powerless? + +The Federalists--such is their historical name--were not to be +disheartened by the formidable obstacles thrown in their way. An +_Imperialist_ inspiration was certainly the basic foundation of their +demonstration finally triumphant. They told their countrymen that if +they were to erect thirteen small Republics upon the burning ruins of +the first Union to which they owed their Independence, they would +prepare a very sad future for their children and children's children. +European immigration was setting in, slowly but surely. They predicted +that the World, this time, would witness, not a barbarous invasion like +that which overthrew the Roman Empire, but one which the Old World would +overflow to the New Continents. This surplus European population would +bring over to America Christian Civilization, the training of hard work, +large hopes, courage, experience in many ways, persevering energy, +which would transform the boundless regions which could become their +national heritage--until then the domain of the wandering Indian--into +one of the greatest and wealthiest countries on earth. Would they commit +the irreparable error to destroy the certainty of such a magnificent +National Destiny, by creating thirteen separate governments, with the +sure result of renewing in America, by such race groupings, the +atrocious military conflicts which, for centuries, have flooded the +European soil with human blood. + +Hamilton and some of his most distinguished friends published that work, +entitled: "_The Federalist_", which will ever live as one of the +broadest and most elevated productions of Political Intelligence. To +all, and especially to the "Nationalist" theorists, I strongly recommend +the reading of that book, a monument of the genius of great statesmen. + +In short, after a lengthy discussion characterized by their brilliant +eloquence and their argumentative strength, the supporters of the +Federal Union of the thirteen States, under one Sovereignty, carried the +day. They had well deserved their glorious triumph. The Republic of the +United States of North America was founded under the ægis of the free +constitutional Charter which has done so much for her prosperity and her +grandeur. + +Such was the initial move of the evolution of American Imperialism. +Those amongst us who desire to learn more about its developments have +only to look over the boundary line. The thirteen original States, +federally united, have increased to number forty-four, with three more +territories gradually developing into Statehood. + +The actual population of the Republic is already much over a _hundred +million_, living in unrivalled prosperity and contentment on a +territorial area of more than _three millions and a half square miles_, +larger than all the European Continent. The sun of the present century +will set upon a people of more than 250,000,000, with a splendid +situation in a world to the destinies of which they will contribute in +many admirable ways, if they are only true to the Christian principles +which alone can assure Civilization and Progress. + +If the term _Imperialism_ truly means what the word +implies,--_Sovereignty being exercised over a large population and a +vast territory_, this political evolution, so decried by some, has most +undoubtedly achieved a great success amongst our neighbours to the +South. + +In all sincerity, may I not ask every unprejudiced mind:--has not the +whole World every reason to be much elated at witnessing the beneficent +results of the triumph of the American Federalists? Evidently, it has +been _Imperial_ in its nature, in its proportions. It is so in its +promises for the future greatness of the Republic. It has maintained, +with only one exception, peace and harmony during nearly a century and a +half, between the descendants of the European nationalities who have +trusted their future welfare to the Sovereignty of the United States. +Instead of wasting their energies in endless conflicts, such as numerous +small States would have infallibly occasioned, thanks to the unity of +the Sovereign Power binding into an admirable whole territories larger +than Europe, they have learned to consider themselves as citizens of the +same free country, as the free subjects of the same governmental +authority. The temporary rupture of the Union, caused by the war of +Secession, was but a vain reactionary action against the powerful +current driving the Republic towards her grand future. + +It is most unlikely--I can say _impossible_ without the slightest +hesitation--that the United States, after taking such a grand and +glorious part in the present war, will abandon the broad and felicitous +policy by which they have grown to be one of the greatest independent +nations of the world, to drop so low as to adopt the blinding notions of +a narrow, sectional, prejudiced and fanatical "Nationalism", such as the +type which would ruin the future of our own Dominion, if ever it was +allowed to prevail. They know too well, by the happiest experience, that +the only true "_Nationalism_" is that which by the united effort of the +intelligence, the culture, the strength, the patriotism of citizens of +divers races has wrought for them their present admirable national +status so full of the brightest promises. When peace shall have been +restored, the great and mighty American Republic will be one of the +leading Powers on earth, owing her unrivalled prosperity in a very large +measure to her appreciation of the wonderful results obtainable by the +union of all her subjects, of whatever racial origins, working with the +same heart and devotion for the grandeur of their common country. + +I am not unduly enthusiastic, I am only speaking the plain truth, when I +affirm that the Republican Imperialism of the United States has been +most beneficent, having guaranteed to Mankind the inestimable boon of +laying deep and strong in a virgin soil, providentially gifted with the +most varied, the most abundant, the richest resources, the destinies of +a great Sovereign Nation comprising numerous ethnical groups. This +liberal, progressive, peaceful, harmonious Imperialism, it is a duty to +approve wishing it to achieve new triumphs for the general good of +Humanity. + +Republican Imperialism is also making its way--contaminating it, our +"Nationalists" would say--in Southern America. This large and splendid +half of the New World has been for too many years the theatre of civil +troubles which appeared endless. A great change for the better has taken +place since the beginning of the concentration movement which has united +almost the entire Southern American Continent into eight Sovereign +States, two of which with really Imperial proportions. + +The Brazilian Republic has a territorial area of 3,218,991 square miles, +with a population of more than 24,000,000 increasing at the average rate +of six or seven hundred thousand a year. With the great natural +resources at her command, she will certainly develop into one great +Power. The day is not so far distant when it will have a population +exceeding _fifty millions_ living in comfort on a soil of luxurious +wealth. + +The Argentine Republic has a territory of 1,153,119 square miles in +extent. Her population is over 8,000,000, having doubled during the last +twenty years. At this rate of a yearly increase of five per cent., it is +easily foreseen what large total it will reach in a few years. It is +wealthy, doing the best with her splendid resources, already +contributing extensively to feed the population of Europe. + +The other Southern American Republics--the Bolivian, the Chilean, the +Colombian, the Peruvian, the Venezuelan--have all territorial areas +double in extent of those of the Great Powers of Western and Central +Europe. + +In Southern America, like everywhere else, the rising tide is not +running in favour of a multiplicity of small Sovereignties, always in a +warring frame of mind. Since her political reorganization, South +America, as a whole, has enjoyed the advantages of peace and of a large +material progress. + +In reality the same political phenomenon is to be found in the five +continents forming the whole earthly globe. Let the "Nationalists" call +it _Imperialism_ if they like, I cannot help concluding that it is the +outgrowth of natural causes operating in the sense of larger political +units, giving to the Nations getting so constituted, prestige, power, +grandeur, favouring public order and, in many instances, the development +of free institutions. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +BRITISH IMPERIALISM. + + +Let me now consider the wonderful development of what I have called +Monarchical Democratic or free Imperialism. It has so far been +exclusively of British growth. It is the typical form of Imperialism +which has been honoured with the most violent, the most unjust, +denunciations of our "Nationalists". + +How did it deserve such an hysterical reprobation? Such is the question +to which I shall now endeavour to give a decisive negative answer. + +I have previously once said that British Imperialism, like American +Imperialism, has Political Liberty as its foundation stone. I think this +can easily be proven. + +Any close observer of political events, will agree with me, I am +confident, that Imperialism is also "OFFENSIVE" and "DEFENSIVE" in its +expansion. The meaning of these two terms is clear. + +For the last fifty years, "OFFENSIVE" IMPERIALISM has been the GERMAN +DESPOTIC IMPERIALISM. The present war--its criminal work--is the +convincing evidence in support of the charge. + +I have, I believe, proved to the satisfaction of every fair minded man, +that during the same last fifty years England's constant efforts have +been to maintain peace. Consequently, I am authorized to draw the +conclusion that British Imperialism was not intended to be, and has not +been "OFFENSIVE". + +The Imperialist effort OFFENSIVELY, AGGRESSIVELY and VIOLENTLY tending +to the continuous and unmeasured expansion of a Sovereign Power, with +the objective of universal domination by all possible means, however +unjust, immoral and savage they may be, is a most guilty effort +deserving the severest condemnation. Such is the German autocratic +Imperialism. + +On the contrary, the DEFENSIVE Imperialist effort, having for its only +object the protection of an Empire, the maintenance of her standing in +the society of nations, and of peace so essential to the general +prosperity of the world, is meritorious, beneficient and laudable. Such +has been the British Monarchical democratic Imperialism. + +It is from this elevated standpoint that I will consider the +negotiations which, for the last few years, have taken place between the +Metropolis and her autonomous Colonies, respecting Imperial defence. +While admitting the right of all the free citizens of Canada to +appreciate them, and entertaining a real respect for the sincerity of +opinions which I cannot conscientiously share, I cannot help considering +that many amongst us have fallen into a serious error in judging the +nature of these negotiations. + +Is it truly, as has been asserted, in obedience to a powerful wave of +"OFFENSIVE IMPERIALISM" that Great Britain has of late convened +representatives of her free Colonies to meet, in London, to confer about +the best means to adopt for the general security of the whole British +Empire? + +Is it, as also asserted, with the unworthy design to entrap the Colonies +that their self-appointed delegates have been called in secret conclaves +where the political leaders of England would, by unfair and foul means, +prevail upon them to agree to unjust sacrifices on the part of the +peoples they represented? + +I am absolutely unable to share such erroneous views. I must admit with +all candor that I have not yet been brought to the conclusion that +British Statesmen are all contaminated with "Machiavellism". A free +country like the United Kingdom is not a land where such deplorable +principles are likely to blossom. + +What are then the extraordinary events which have recently taken place +to justify the assertion of the "Nationalist" leader that, in the course +of the last few years, a complete REVOLUTION has been wrought in the +relations of the autonomous Colonies with their Metropolis? Of such a +Revolution, cunningly promoted to bring the colonies against their will +to participate in the Imperial wars--_les guerres de l'empire_--I do not +perceive the smallest shadow of traces. + +As everybody else, living with their eyes not closed to the light of +day, I clearly saw, principally during the last twenty years, that +important developments were taking place under the sun; that European +equilibrium upon the maintenance of which universal peace so much +depended, was rapidly breaking asunder; that the German Empire was more +and more unmasking her guilty ambition to dominate an enslaved universe; +that, to reach that goal, she was organizing an army formidable by its +millions of warriors, their superior training, their ironed discipline +and their unrivalled armament. I knew that the sadly famous Kaiser +Wilhelm II. was determined, at all cost, to increase the power of his +Empire by the addition of a military fleet in such proportions as to be +able, in a successful naval battle, to conquer the supremacy of the +seas. + +Under such circumstances, was it to be supposed that the Statesmen +responsible for the government of Great Britain would be so careless and +so blind as not to see the dark spots crowding on the horizon! + +The problem of Imperial defence was then once more raised, not by a mere +caprice of vain glory on the part of England, but by the inevitable +outcome of the initiative of would-be opponents, if not actually +declared enemies. The overseas colonies being more and more likely to be +attacked, in a general conflict, was it surprising that the British +Government was induced to confer with them for their common defence +under the new conditions which were surely not of their own +metropolitan or colonial creation. + +All the representatives of Great Britain, of Canada, Australia, South +Africa, New Zealand, at the London conferences, took part in those +solemn deliberations with the full sense of their responsibility. None +of them was so mistaken as to consider the question, of paramount +importance, of the DEFENSIVE organization of the Empire, as futile, +merely to be used by the astuteness of some and the guilty complicity of +others, joining together to sacrifice the future of their common +country. The odious imputation, the shameless charge, were equally +unjust and calumnious for the British ministers and the colonial public +men who, in their turn, went to London to deliberate on subjects so +vitally interesting all the component parts of the Empire. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SITUATIONS OF 1865 AND 1900-14 COMPARED. + + +Our "Nationalist" opponents of all colonial participation in the +Imperial wars, affirm that Canada should have abided with the convention +of 1865. Are they not aware that, since that year, a great deal of water +has run along the rivers; that the world, although perhaps not wiser, +has at least grown half a century older; that so many ancient conditions +have radically changed; that nations, like individuals, to be +progressive, cannot go on marking time on the same small hardened spot? + +Any man sincerely desirous to form for himself an enlightened opinion on +the question of Imperial defence, must first admit that two national and +general situations, totally different, create widely different duties. + +Let us compare for a moment, 1865 and 1900-14--_yesterday and +to-day_--as the "Nationalist" leader says. + +Fifty years ago, the German Empire was non-existent. Nothing pointed to +the early birth of this terrible child destined to grow so rapidly to +such colossal proportions. + +The French Empire was the leading continental Power; Great Britain, then +as now, the leading naval Power, both military and mercantile. + +Those two nations, without a formal alliance, had been united ever since +the days when Lord Palmerston favoured the advent of Napoleon III. + +The Union of England and France was doing much to maintain the peace of +the world. + +The United States were just emerging from the trials of their great +Civil War. They had to solve the very difficult problem of their +national reconstruction. Their population did not exceed thirty-five +millions. + +How different was the situation of 1900-14! + +The German Empire had become formidable with her population of +68,000,000, her soldiers numbering more than 7,000,000, with 1,000,000 +of men permanently under arms, ever ready for an offensive campaign, +with her fleet much enlarged yearly at the cost of enormous financial +sacrifices; allied to Austria-Hungary, with her population of +50,000,000, to Italy, with her 36,000,000--then being one of the Triple +Alliance--supported by Turkey and Bulgaria,--in all a combined strength +of 150,000,000 bodies and souls; with the Germans exalted to the utmost +by persistent appeals to their feelings and to their ambitious dreams. + +The American Republic grown to the rank of a first class Power, with a +population of 100,000,000 and a magnificent military fleet. + +Was it even sensible to pretend that such altered worldly conditions did +not make the revision of the understanding arrived at in 1865 an +imperious necessity. + +They are living in an imaginary world those of us who assert that Canada +could remain a British Colony under a permanent agreement--never to be +amended--by which the Mother Country would be bound to defend her, at +all costs and all hazards, whenever and by whomsoever attacked, Canada +in the meantime refusing, whatever the perils of England might be, to +spend a dollar and to send one man for her defence. There could be but +one issue to the consideration of such propositions: the dissolution of +the British Empire. I regret to say that Mr. Bourassa has audaciously +declared that such has been the objective of his oppositionist campaign +to the Canadian participation in Imperial wars. + +If Canada, through its constitutional organ, the Ottawa Parliament, had +signified to England, in 1914, that she would not take the least part in +the war imposed upon her by Germany, nor do anything to help her Allies, +France and Belgium, could she, without blushing with shame, have claimed +the protection of the British flag, if her territory had been attacked. + +Would not England have been fully justified in taking the initiative to +break the bond which could henceforth but be disastrous to her, our +shameless attitude towards her, at the hour of her peril, being most +favourable to her mortal enemy. + +Have I not every sound reason to conclude that Canadian participation in +the present war was in no way whatever the outcome of an Imperialist +attempt to drag her, against her will, in the conflict into which she so +nobly hastened to enter with the determination to fight to the last, and +to deserve her fair share of the glory which will be but one of the +rewards that will accrue to all those who will have united together to +save Liberty and Civilization from the German barbarous onslaught. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +BRITISH IMPERIALISM NATURALLY PACIFIST. + + +According to its "Nationalist" opponents, British Imperialism has always +been of a conquering nature, like that of the Roman type and those of +ancient history. + +This opinion is formally contradicted by a long succession of undeniable +historical facts. Undoubtedly the splendid structure of the British +Empire was not erected without armed support. The creation, without an +army organization, of a Sovereign State comprising a fourth of the +Globe, which component parts, themselves of colossal proportions, +situated in all the continents, separated by the immensity of the seas, +would have been more than marvellous. + +I will not pretend that always and everywhere the expansion of British +Sovereignty has taken place according to the dictates of strict justice. +Still I do not hesitate to say that, on the whole, it has developed +under conditions which were never the outcome of a mere conquering +ambition. + +With much reason, English citizens are proud of the fact that their +Empire is the result of a NATURAL GROWTH. When the call to arms had to +be made, it was oftener for DEFENSIVE WARS. + +The British Empire, outside the United Kingdom, comprise, for the most +important part, Canada, Australia, the South African Dominion, and +India. It is easy to explain, in a few lines, under what general +circumstances those immense regions were brought under the British flag. +I shall, of course, begin this short historical review by the +acquisition of Canada by England. + +The great event of the discovery of the New World, at the end of the +fifteenth century, tempted the western European nations to acquire vast +colonies in the new continent. Spain, France, Portugal, Holland, were +the first in the field. If the craving for large colonies in the new +Hemisphere was of Imperialist inspiration, England does not appear to +have been one of the first Powers infested with the disease so dreaded +by our "Nationalists". She was rather late to catch it. Hollanders +settled in New York before the British. + +As all ought to know, Spain took hold of the whole of Southern America. +France displayed her flag on the larger part of Northern America, +commanding the St. Lawrence and Mississippi Rivers, and the Great Lakes. +Those immense regions, extending from the cold north to flowery +Louisiana, were called NEW FRANCE. Later on, that part of North America +bordering on the Atlantic, from Maine to Virginia, became British, and +was subdivided into thirteen provinces, or separate colonies. For such a +dominating Imperialist, as some pretend she has ever been, it must be +admitted that England was rather in a modest frame of mind with regard +to her colonial enterprises. The British Government itself was slow in +moving towards the Imperialist goal which was stirring up Spain and +France to a much greater activity. The first British emigrants were +Puritans looking for that religious liberty, under a new shining sun, +which was denied to them by their native land in those days when +fanaticism was unfortunately too much triumphant in many countries. + +As it was inevitable, the European Colonies in America, all satellites +of their metropolis, fell victims to the political rivalries of the +nations who settled them. Not satisfied with fighting in Europe, those +Powers also decided to gratify the New World with a specimen of what +they could do on the battlefields. The Seven Years War did not originate +in America, as it was the outcome of secular European international +difficulties. + +If the European nations, in taking possession of America, were making a +conquest, it was that of the white race over the yellow one of the New +World. Spain and France, in raising their flags over four-fifths of the +American continent, were surely strengthening Imperialism. Will our +"Nationalists" accuse them of having unduly saved the New World from the +secular Indian barbarism? + +More especially, Spanish Imperialism in America was most despotic. By a +very false political conception, Spain undertook a great settlement work +in America with the sole object of bleeding her colonies to her only +profit. It failed disastrously as it deserved to. It is because she +persevered in her fatal error that, in 1898, she was forced out of Cuba. +The last stone of her immense colonial edifice was cast away. + +England shared Spain's error, but much less heavily. Like Spain, she +reaped what she had sowed. The thirteen British American colonies +revolted and conquered their Independence. Alone French Canada remained +loyal to England. + +If the French Canadians had sided with the British Colonies to the South +in the contest for their Independence, the Canada of those days would +certainly have been included in the American Republic when England was +forced, by the fate of war, to acknowledge the new Sovereign nation. Her +offspring then violently broke away from the parental home, but has +recently hastened to her defence, at the hour of danger, only +remembering the first happy years of her childhood. + +Following the loyal advice of their spiritual leaders, and of their most +trusted civil chieftains, the French Canadians remained true to England, +refusing to desert her, thus maintaining her Sovereign rights over the +Northern half of the Continent destined, a century later, to develop +into the present Dominion, enjoying the free institutions of the Mother +Country. + +As previously stated, the American Revolution brought for ever to an end +British absolutism in the new continent. Henceforth, liberty and +autonomy were to be the two foundation stones of a new colonial Policy +which, far from disrupting the Empire as the autocratic one had done, +was to cement its union so strongly as to make possible the gigantic +military effort she has displayed for more than the last four years. + +The Treaty of Paris brought the Seven Years War to a close. Once more +the peace of the world was temporarily restored. By the Treaty of Paris, +Canada was ceded to England, our "Nationalists" say. If so, how can they +pretend that the extension of British Sovereignty over the regions which +have become the great autonomous Dominion of Canada was an undue +manifestation of British conquering Imperialism? + +An intelligent and impartial student of the early settlements of the two +continents of America can only draw the conclusion that the New World +has not been the theatre of the operations of British Imperialism. Its +first real attempt was tried--with much laudable success--in 1867, by +the federal union of the Canadian provinces, decreed by the Sovereign +legislative power of the Parliament of Great Britain, at our own request +and in accordance with our own freely expressed wishes. + +Australia is the second autonomous colony of England in extent and +importance. It comprises nearly all the territory of the Oceanic +continent, so called from the geographical position, in the Pacific +Ocean, of the Islands forming it. New Zealand is the second group of +these Islands. It is another autonomous British colony, called, since +1907 "THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND". + +Those two Dominions have a combined territorial area of more than +3,000,000 square miles--almost as large as the whole of Europe--with a +population of six millions rapidly increasing. Their two largest cities, +Sydney and Melbourne, each having a population of 700,000, are great +commercial centres. + +If British Imperialism has had anything to do with the bringing of +Australia and New Zealand under British Sovereignty, it must be admitted +by all fair minded men that it has worked its way in the most pacific +manner. Deservedly renowned British explorers--Cook, Vancouver, and +others--discovered and took possession of the Oceanic continent in the +name of their Sovereign. Welcomed by the aboriginal tribes, they raised +the British flag over the fair land of such a promising future in the +latter end of the eighteenth century--Cook in 1770. It has ever since +been graciously waving, by the sweet breeze of the Pacific, over one of +the happiest peoples on earth, enjoying the blessings of interior peace +and all the advantages of the political liberties conferred upon these +great colonies, more than half a century ago. As a matter of fact, +England has organized her Australasian possessions into free autonomous +colonies at the very dawn of their political life, dating from the +middle of the last century, when they began that splendid progressive +advance developing more and more every year. + +Is it not evident, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the settlement of +the Australasian colonies by England, so satisfactory and so promising, +has not been brought about by the illegitimate ambition of an unmeasured +Sovereign aggrandizement by a guilty sort of Imperialism. + +The establishment of British Sovereignty in the Indian country, immense +in extent, wealth and population, is one of the greatest events of the +historical development of the British Empire. + +I shall not say that all that took place in the government of India +deserves a blind approval. That British authority was much too long left +in the control of a company was a misfortune. Under such a regime abuses +were sure to develop and increase. They did and were energetically +denounced--more especially on that day when Sheridan rose to such an +eloquence, in the House of Lords, that a motion of adjournment had to be +carried, to allow the peers to recover the free control of their minds +before rendering judgment in the case brought before their tribunal, +impeaching Warren Hastings. + +The rule of the Indian Company was abolished, in 1858, by _The +Government of India Act_. + +In 1876, the illustrious Disraëli--Lord Beaconsfield--took the +statesmanlike decision of adding a new prestige to the British Crown and +to the Sovereign wearing it. He had Parliament to adopt the _Royal +Titles Act_, by which Her Majesty Queen Victoria was proclaimed EMPRESS +OF INDIA. + +Such, in due course, and without any trouble, was accomplished that +great political evolution which substituted, for populations numbering +more than three hundred millions of human beings, an Imperial system in +place of the deplorable government by a company. For the last sixty +years, the new regime has given peace, order and prosperity to India. + +A French publicist wrote as follows:-- + + After troubles of nine centuries duration, India has recovered + peace under the tutelage of England, the best colonizer of the + peoples of Europe. England has rendered an evident service to + India. She has freed her from the intestine wars tearing her + since her historical origin; she has given her a police and an + administrative system. + +Nations, like individuals, are not perfect. To judge equitably, +impartially, the government by a Metropolis of the regions under her +Sovereignty, one must not only be scandalized at her failings, but must +take the broader view of her whole history in appreciating its final +good and commendable results. So judging the government of India by +England, every impartial mind must conclude that, on the whole--and more +especially for the last sixty years--it has been beneficient. It +promises to be still more so, as a consequence of the admirable share +India is taking in the present war. + +Egypt and the Soudan have a territorial area of 1,335,000 square miles, +with a population of 15,000,000. I pride to be one of those who +congratulate Great Britain to have freed the ancient and glorious +Egyptian country from Turkish tyranny. A proclamation, dated the 18th +of December, 1914, has finally placed Egypt under England's protectorate +with the agreement of France. + +In the chapters respecting the Soudanese and South African wars, I have +shown how satisfactory has been the rule of Great Britain in those +African countries. + +It being ever true that the earth was Providentially created for men to +live in the legitimate enjoyment of the blessings of peace multiplied by +the fruits of their labours, the Egyptians and the Soudaneses have every +reason to congratulate themselves for their liberation from the Turkish +barbarous yoke, and for the protection they receive from one of the most +civilizing nations. + +I sincerely believe that this short review of the respective situation +of five of the principal component parts of the British Empire, is +sufficient to form the honest conviction that if England has practised +Imperialism, she has done so for the real benefit of the peoples living +under the ægis of her Sovereignty, the most favourable to colonial +political liberty. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +BRITISH IMPERIALISM AND POLITICAL LIBERTY. + + +British history, for the last century and more, proves that Imperialism +is not naturally incompatible with Political Liberty, nor with the +respect due the national aspirations of divers ethnical groups. The +unity and the consolidation of the Empire made their greatest strides +since the close of the war which resulted in the independence of the +neighbouring Republic. As previously explained, they were the outcome of +the very wise and statesmanlike change of colonial policy then adopted +by England. The days were to come when they would be put to the severest +test and would prove more than equal to its greatest strain. Those are +the days which the British Empire is living through, with brilliancy and +heroism, amidst the dazzling lightning and the roaring thunder of an +unprecedented military conflict, with every prospect of surviving its +sufferings and sacrifices with a still stronger political structure. + +The same evolution by which Great Britain was to reach the summit of +Political Liberty by the final triumph of the new constitutional +principle of ministerial responsibility, was spreading to her far +overseas Colonies. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, +Newfoundland were successively granted constitutional charters based on +the same principles as those of the institutions of the United Kingdom. + +As I have already said, Imperialism becomes dangerous and deserves the +severest condemnation, only where and when it is the instrument of +autocratic absolutism. It causes me no alarm whatever when it is +developed under free institutions, guaranteed and protected by +ministerial responsibility. + +Whatever said to the contrary, by prejudiced and designing writers, +imbued with the extravagant notions of a narrow and fanatical +"Nationalism", Canada, the most important of the autonomous Colonies of +the British Empire, is freer than ever. Like all the other nations, she +suffers from disastrous events shaking the whole worldly edifice, but +she is none the less the absolute mistress of the initiative of whatever +efforts she considers her duty to make under those trying circumstances. +England has imposed nothing upon Canada, has asked nothing from Canada, +since the beginning of the war. She has, of course, accepted, with much +pleasure and gratitude, the help we have freely offered and given her. +Let our "Nationalists", in their inspired unfairness, say, if they like, +that Canada, like all the Allies defensively fighting, was forced in the +conflict by the imperious necessity of the situation created by those +who expected to reach the goal of their ambition. But they have no +right to charge Great Britain to have coerced the Dominion, against her +will, to join in the struggle which the British Government had done +their utmost to prevent. + +If it was not giving to this work too wide a range, I would like to +undertake an historical sketch of all the good the British +constitutional system has produced in the United Kingdom and in the +Colonies. I shall quote only a few of the most important examples. + +In my opinion, the one development in England's history, since the close +of the eighteenth century, most interesting to the French Canadians, is +certainly that which resulted in the emancipation of the Roman Catholics +of the United Kingdom. + +To persuade my French Canadian countrymen of the good to be wrought by +the patriotic use of the British institutions, I explained to them that +at the beginning of the last century, the Roman Catholics of the United +Kingdom enjoyed no political rights. They were neither electors, nor +eligible to the House of Commons. They asked that justice be done to +them. True statesmen, high and fair minded, admitted the justice of +their claims and supported them. The ensuing political contest lasted +more than twenty years. + +To obtain the proposed change in the long standing laws of the realm +from an exclusively Protestant electorate, was indeed a great task to +accomplish. The public men supporting the Roman Catholics' claims were +courageous and eloquent. They carried the day. Have not the true friends +of political freedom every reason to congratulate themselves that a +great measure of justice granting political rights to Roman Catholics +was voted by an Electorate and a Parliament exclusively Protestant. + +King George IV, through fear that his Royal prerogative might be +impaired by the change, was hostile to it. He was persuaded to agree to +the measure by Sir Robert Peel, the life long opponent of Roman Catholic +emancipation. Whatever were the religious convictions and feelings of +Sir Robert Peel, he was a statesman of a high class. As all the leading +public men of England, he had a broad conception of the duties of the +chief adviser of the Crown, and of the true spirit of the British +constitution. The voice of the nation having spoken in no uncertain +sounds, the national will must be followed. He plainly said so to His +Majesty who yielded. Then, in a most admirable speech, he--Sir Robert +Peel--moved himself the passing of the bill granting justice to the +Roman Catholics, carried it through the two Houses of Parliament and had +it sanctioned by the King. + +A great act of national justice always receives its due reward. The +Roman Catholics have been faithful and loyal subjects. George IV and his +successors have lived to see many evident proofs of their loyal +devotion, more especially since the opening of the present war. + +The final success of the free discussion of the question of granting to +the Roman Catholics of the United Kingdom all the rights enjoyed by the +British subjects of all the other religious denominations, carried in +spite of difficulties not easily overcome, is certainly one of the +greatest and most honorable triumphs that Political Liberty has ever +obtained. I was often deeply moved at reading the historic account of +that most interesting debate in Parliament, on the public platform and +in the press. More and more, the conviction was firmly impressed on my +mind and soul that a great people accomplishing a grand act of justice +gives a most salutary example to posterity deserving the admiration and +gratitude of all generations to come. + +I was only appreciating with justice and fairness the part played by +England in Canada, in telling my French Canadian countrymen that they +enjoyed the political rights of British subjects many years before the +same privileges and justice was granted to the Roman Catholics of the +United Kingdom. That much in answer to the charge of our fanatical +extremists that England and her Government always wanted to oppress the +French Canadians on account of their religious faith. + +Without going back to the eventful days of _Magna Charta_ and of the +_Bill of Rights_, both embodying the fundamental constitutional +principles which were finally bound to overcome the last pretentions of +absolutism of yore, I considered a short review, in broad lines, of the +work performed by the British Electorate and the Imperial Parliament, +during the last century, would help in destroying in the minds of my +French readers the prejudices forced upon them by "Nationalist" writers. +That great work is principally illustrated by eight important measures +of general interest. + +I have just mentioned that most honourable one emancipating the Roman +Catholics of Great Britain. + +Shortly after, it was followed by that abolishing the Corn Laws after a +protracted and very interesting discussion. That important measure was +also carried on the proposition of the same Sir Robert Peel, for a long +time its determined opponent. The manufacturing population, increasing +so rapidly, would soon have been starved by the continuously augmenting +cost of bread. Sir Robert Peel foresaw the fearful consequences sure to +ensue, if no relief was granted to millions threatened with hunger. He +was, as I have already said, too much of a statesman to hesitate in +doing his duty. He gave up his own opinion and advised his Sovereign to +do away with the Corn Laws, the repeal of which he had Parliament to +vote. + +With the advent of Queen Victoria, ministerial responsibility for all +the acts of the Sovereign became definitely the fundamental principle of +the British constitution. + +Complete ministerial responsibility, once fully recognized in Great +Britain, was without delay granted to all the British colonies having +representative institutions. + +The abolition of slavery all over the British Empire is, every one must +admit, a political development of first magnitude, one doing the +greatest possible honour to the great nation having first taken the +glorious initiative of granting to the black race the justice ordered by +Christianity. It is undoubtedly a very valuable reform to the credit of +England. + +The Imperial Parliament realized that the constitutional regime of the +United Kingdom could not bear all the fruits to be expected from it with +an electorate restricted to privileged classes. To support such a +splendid edifice, admirable in structure and strength, a larger basic +foundation, more solid, laid deep in the national soil, was required. +After a long political struggle, freedom was once more triumphant in the +Motherland. The first great Reform Bill of 1832 was the starting point +of successive legislative enactments, enlarging the franchise, calling +to the exercise of political rights various classes of the people, +bringing up the British electorate to the glorious standard of being one +of the freest, the most enlightened, and most independent in the world. +The crowning measure of this extensive political reform has been the +Bill of 1917 providing for the addition of some 8,000,000 voters to the +roll, including about 6,000,000 women. + +The rotten boroughs of old were abolished and replaced by a much better +redistribution of electoral divisions. + +Dating from 1867, great autonomous federal colonies, with full Sovereign +rights in the administration of all their interior affairs, have been +created by Imperial charters. The Canadian, Australian, South African, +and New Zealand Dominions, of a total territorial area exceeding +7,000,000 square miles, with a total population of over 25,000,000, +nearly 20,000,000 of which belong to the white race, have commenced +their new political career with all the confidence and the hopes +inspired by their free institutions. + +Finally, the Imperial Parliament passed a law granting Home Rule to +Ireland. Unfortunately, the war, so disastrous in many ways, prevented +the immediate carrying out of the will of Parliament, certainly +representative of that of the nation. But this vexed question must at +last be settled once for all. It is to be hoped that the day is not far +distant when it will be removed from the political arena by a solution +satisfactory to Ireland, to England and to the whole Empire. + +Besides all those very important measures of political reform, the +British Parliament has passed many laws of urgent social improvement. + +The crowning act of the Imperial Parliament has been its determined +attitude for the maintenance of peace through a long series of years. + +If all the above enumeration of measures of widespread influence for the +general good is to be called Imperialism, I say without hesitation that +it is an Imperialism worth favouring. The world will never have too much +of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +IMPERIAL FEDERATION AND "BOURASSISM". + + +The leader of our "Nationalists," always frightened, apparently at +least, with the supposed dangers of further Imperialist encroachments +detrimental to the best interests of the British autonomous Colonies, +seems alarmed at the prospects to follow the close of the hostilities. +Consequently, it has been a part of his campaign to bring the French +Canadians to share his fears for their future. + +Not in the least worried by such apprehensions, it was also my duty to +try and persuade my French Canadian compatriots not to be unduly +disturbed by the sayings of a publicist magnifying the errors of his +excited imagination. + +That there will be after-the-war problems to consider, is most likely. +What will they be? It is very difficult to foresee just now with +sufficient definiteness. So much will depend upon the general conditions +of the restoration of peace. However, broad lines have, for the last +four years, been outlined with fair clearness permitting a general view +of what is likely to happen. + +Let us for a moment examine the traces of the initial phases of the +constitutional developments likely to be the outcome of the joint +effort of the whole Empire to win the war. + +The second chapter of the Report of the War Cabinet for the year +1917--already quoted somewhat extensively--deals with the new aspect of +Imperial Affairs more especially the consequence of the war. The opening +paragraph partly reads as follows:-- + + The outstanding event of the year in the sphere of Imperial + Affairs has been the inauguration of the Imperial War Cabinet. + This has been the direct outcome of the manner in which all + parts of the Empire had thrown themselves into the war during + the preceding years. Impalpable as was the bond which bound this + great group of peoples together, there was never any doubt about + their loyalty to the Commonwealth to which they belonged and to + the cause to which it was committed by the declaration of war. + Without counting the cost to themselves, they offered their men + and their treasure in defence of freedom and public right. From + the largest and most prosperous Dominion to the smallest island + the individual and national effort has been one of continuous + and unreserved generosity. + +After mentioning that during 1917 "great progress has been made in the +organisation both of the man-power and other resources of the Empire for +the prosecution of the war," and that "the British Army is now a truly +Imperial Army, containing units from almost every part of the Empire," +the Report says:-- + + The real development, however, of 1917 has been in the political + sphere, and it has been the result of the intense activity of + all parts of the Empire in prosecuting the war since August, + 1914. + + It had been felt for some time that, in view of the + ever-increasing part played by the Dominions in the war, it was + necessary that their Governments should not only be informed as + fully as was possible of the situation, but that, as far as was + practicable, they should participate, on a basis of complete + equality, in the deliberations which determined the main + outlines of Imperial policy. + +Accordingly, a Special War Conference was convened to meet in London, +where for practical convenience it was divided into two parts: one, +"known as the Imperial War Cabinet, which consisted of the Oversea +Representatives and the members of the British War Cabinet sitting +together as an Imperial War Cabinet for deliberation about the conduct +of the war and for the discussion of the larger issues of Imperial +policy connected with the war." The other "was the Imperial War +Conference, presided over by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, +which consisted of the Oversea Representatives and a number of other +ministers, which discussed non-war problems connected with the war but +of lesser importance." + +On the 17th May, 1917, the British Prime Minister, giving "to the House +of Commons a short appreciation of the work of the Imperial War +Cabinet," said in part:-- + + I ought to add that the institution in its present form is + extremely elastic. It grew, not by design, but out of the + necessities of the war. The essence of it is that the + responsible heads of the Governments of the Empire, with those + Ministers who are specially entrusted with the conduct of + Imperial Policy should meet together at regular intervals to + confer about foreign policy and matters connected therewith, and + come to decisions in regard to them which, subject to the + control of their own Parliaments, they will then generally + execute. By this means they will be able to obtain full + information about all aspects of Imperial affairs, and to + determine by consultation together the policy of the Empire in + its most vital aspects, without infringing in any degree the + autonomy which its parts at present enjoy. To what + constitutional developments this may lead we did not attempt to + settle. The whole question of perfecting the mechanism of + "continuous consultation" about Imperial and foreign affairs + between the "autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealth" + will be reserved for the consideration of that special + Conference which will be summoned as soon as possible after the + war to readjust the constitutional relations of the Empire. We + felt, however, that the experiment of consulting an Imperial + Cabinet in which India was represented had been so fruitful in + better understanding and in unity of purpose and action that it + ought to be perpetuated, and we believe that this proposal will + commend itself to the judgment of all the nations of the Empire. + +The preceding are words of political wisdom, worthy of the best form of +British statesmanship. Were they the dawn of a new era, dissipating the +clouds accumulated by the trials of a long period of military conflict, +and showing in a future, more or less distant, the rising constitutional +fabric of a still greater Imperial Commonwealth, not so much in size, +than in unity, in freedom and strength? Time will tell. But can we not +at once note with confidence that the fundamental principle upheld by +all the leading British public men is that, whatever constitutional +developments may be in store for us all, they will not be allowed to +infringe "in any degree the autonomy" presently enjoyed by the Oversea +Dominions. + +The Imperial War Conference held in London, last year, passed the +following very important "Resolution" dealing with the future +constitutional organisation of the Empire:-- + + "The Imperial War Conference are of opinion that the + readjustment of the constitutional relations of the component + parts of the Empire is too important and intricate a subject to + be dealt with during the war, and that it should form the + subject of a special Imperial Conference to be summoned as soon + as possible after the cessation of hostilities. + + "They deem it their duty; however, to place on record their view + that any such readjustment, while thoroughly preserving all + existing powers of self-government and complete control of + domestic affairs, should be based on a full recognition of the + Dominions as autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealth, and + of India as an important portion of the same, should recognise + the right of the Dominions and India to an adequate voice in + foreign policy and in foreign relations, and should provide + effective arrangements for continuous consultation in all + important matters of common Imperial concern and for such + necessary concerted action, founded on consultation, as the + several Governments may determine." + +We can await without the slightest alarm the holding of the proposed +"_special Imperial Conference to be summoned as soon as possible after +the cessation of the hostilities_." The fundamental principles upon +which "_the readjustment_," if any one is made, "_of the constitutional +relations of the component parts of the Empire_" are to rest, are well +defined in the above "Resolution":--_through preservation of "all +existing powers of self-government and complete control of domestic +affairs_;--_full recognition of the Dominions as autonomous nations of +an Imperial Commonwealth, and of India as an important portion of the +same_";--the admission of "_the right of the Dominions and India to an +adequate voice in foreign policy and in foreign relations_." + +Upon that large and strong basis, I, for one, am ready to wait with +patience and confidence the result of the deliberations of the future +special Imperial Conference. With regard to the proposed Conference, I +cannot see any reason for anyone to indulge in the "Nationalist" +hysterical fears of an oppressive Imperialism devouring, as the old +mythological god--Saturn--his own children. + +As I have said, the work of the special Imperial Conference will be +rendered more or less easy by the conditions of the future peace. I +pray, with all the fervour of my soul, that the war shall not end by a +hasty compromise--as wished for by our blind, if not really disloyal, +pacifists--by which the world would be doomed to another disaster far +worse than the one it is straining every nerve to overcome, and that +after years of the most costly warlike preparations. Such a peace would +be the saddest possible conclusion of the present conflict, and much +worse than the sacrifices yet to be borne by the prosecution of the war +to a finish. We must all implore Providence to save Humanity from such a +cataclysm. + +A special Imperial Conference meeting under such disheartening +circumstances would indeed have a most difficult task to accomplish. It +was evidently an act of wisdom on the part of the Imperial War +Conference of last year to express the opinion that the special Imperial +Conference should be summoned only after the cessation of hostilities. + +When peace shall have been restored with the only conditions which can +be satisfactory to the Allies and to the world at large, a special +Imperial Conference will be in order, having for its object to consider +the readjustment of the constitutional relations of the component parts +of the Empire, in conformity with the requirements of the new situation +which will have grown out of the necessities of the war. However +important the task, the tranquility of the world being, let us hope, +assured for many long years, there will be no reason for the Conference +to proceed hastily to any insufficiently matured conclusion. The +representative public men who will meet in London from all over the +Empire will not forget, we may rest confident, that the safest way to a +good working readjustment will be, as it has always been in the past, +that which will follow the straight line of natural growth. Dry cut +resolutions, imprudently adopted, and pressed upon unwilling populations +would have ninety-nine chances out of a hundred to be more injurious +than profitable. + +Every sensible man must acknowledge that the war has in an extraordinary +manner hastened the rapidity of the advance towards the turning point in +the Constitutional organization of the British Empire. The day is near +at hand when the problem will have to be faced with courage and +broadness of mind. Very blind indeed, and far behind the times, is he +who does not realize that TO BE, or NOT TO BE, for the Empire, is +confined to two clear words: CONSOLIDATION or DISSOLUTION. The tide has +either to ebb or flow, the wave to advance or recede. The edifice must +be strengthened or left to decay. Like any living being, a political +society, be it great or small, after its birth, more or less laborious, +grows to a prosperous and healthy old age, or crumbles down prematurely. +Very much depends, for either course, on the wisdom or extravagance of +the way of passing through life. Unmeasured ambitions, wild +expectations, are too often, alike for the individual and the nation, +the surest road to a lamentable ruin. Wisdom, the outcome of sound moral +principles, and wide experience, is, on the other hand, the safest +guarantee of longevity, of bright old days full of contentment, honour, +prestige and true grandeur. + +Grave will be the responsibility of those who will meet in solemn +conclave to lay down the foundations of the future British Imperial +Commonwealth. No less serious will be the responsibility of the +populations, scattered over the five continents, who will be called upon +to pronounce, freely and finally, upon the propositions which will be +submitted to their approval or disavowal. Consequently undue haste would +be more than ill-advised. + +For instance, the paramount question to be considered by the new +Imperial Conference will most likely be that of the future military +organization of the Empire. Is it not evident that this problem will be +much more easily settled if the Allied nations succeed in carrying the +point they have the most at heart:--The reduction of permanent +armaments as the safest protection against any new outburst of savage +militarism flooding the earth of God with human blood. If this _sine qua +non_ condition is the top article of the future peace treaty, the great +Powers having agreed, in honour bound, to maintain the world's +tranquillity and order, will all be afforded the blessings of a long +rest from the ruinous military expenditures too long imposed upon them +by the mad run of Germany to conquer universal domination. The British +Empire, as a whole, will, as much as any other nation, enjoy the full +benefits of such a favourable situation. She will, like her Allies, +return to the pursuits of peace, with millions of veteran soldiers who, +for the next ten years at least, would, in large numbers, certainly join +the Colours once more, if need be, to defend their country in a new just +war. Then, under such circumstances, why should the peoples of the whole +Empire be immediately called upon to incur more expenses for military +purposes than absolutely necessary for the maintenance of interior +order, and to meet any sudden and unforeseen emergency. + +The liquidation of the obligations necessarily accumulated during the +war will be the first duty of all the Allied nations. The task will no +doubt be very large, most onerous. Still I trust that it will not be +beyond their resources of natural wealth, of capital and labour, of +courageous savings. + +As the "Resolution" adopted by the Imperial War Conference says, "the +readjustment of the constitutional relations of the component parts of +the Empire is too important and intricate a subject to be dealt with +during the war." When taken up after the war--even if just _as soon as +possible_--it will be none the less IMPORTANT AND INTRICATE. Such a +subject should not be dealt with without matured consideration and given +a hasty solution. If the peace treaty satisfactorily settles the world's +situation for a long future of general tranquillity which will certainly +bless all the nations with many years of unprecedented prosperity, +plenty of time will be afforded to deliberate wisely upon the paramount +question of the building of a "new and greater Imperial Commonwealth." +Our frenzied "Nationalists" can quiet their nerves. The imperialist wild +bear will not be growling at the door. Because we are all likely to be +called upon to consider how best to promote the unity and the future +prosperity of the Empire, we will have no reason to fear that we shall +be, from one day to the other, forcibly thrown into perilous adventures +by the Machiavellic machinations of out and out Imperialist enthusiasts. + +I have already said that it is becoming more and more evident that TO +BE, or NOT TO BE, the British Empire must either CONSOLIDATE or +DISSOLVE. I must not be understood to mean that with the restoration of +peace under the happy conditions all the Allies are fighting for, the +Empire, as she will emerge from the tornado, could not, as a whole, +resume, for more or less time, her prosperous existence of _ante_-war +days. What will be best to do, it is too early to foresee. Then it is +better to wait for the issue of the war, trusting that all the truly +loyal British subjects will then join together to pronounce upon +whatever questions of imperial concern will claim their urgent +consideration. + +But there is a certainty that can be at once positively affirmed. All +the peoples living and developing under the ægis of the British flag are +determined that the British Empire is to be. Whenever a special Imperial +Conference sits in London, all the representatives of the many component +parts of the British Commonwealth will meet in the great Capital surely +to deliberate over the most practical means TO CONSOLIDATE THE EMPIRE. +We may all depend that no one will propose to destroy it. + +How best to consolidate the Empire, such will be the important question. +To be sure, the future special Conference will not likely be wanting in +propositions from many outside would-be constitutional framers. Schemes +may be numerous, some worth considering, others useless if not +mischievous. No reason to feel uneasy and to worry about them. We can +confidently hope that British statesmanship will be equal to the new +task it will be called upon to perform. Our Canadian public men will +have much to gain by closer intercourse with their Imperial colleagues, +and by judging great questions from a higher standpoint. + +Let there be no mistake about it: the true secret of the most effective +consolidation of the Empire was discovered by the British statesmen the +day when they realized that henceforth free institutions and the largest +possible measure of colonial autonomy were the only sure means to +solidify the structure of the British Commonwealth. Such is the opinion +of the Imperial War Conference outlining in their previously quoted +"Resolution" what must be the fundamental basis of any future +"READJUSTMENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS OF THE COMPONENT PARTS OF +THE EMPIRE." + + +CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA. + +As a preliminary to the prospective readjustment of the political status +of the Empire, it is worth noting the advance of India towards political +autonomy. It was made manifest by the significant step of inviting India +to the deliberations of the Imperial War Cabinet, and by the +"Resolution" adopted by the Imperial War Conference that India must be +fully represented at all future Imperial Conferences. + +Respecting India, the Report of the War Cabinet, for the year 1917, +says:-- + + It was clear, however, that this recognition of the new status + of India in the Empire would necessarily be followed by + substantial progress towards internal self-government. + Accordingly, on August 20th, the following important declaration + of His Majesty's Government on this subject was made in the + House of Commons by the Secretary of State for India:-- + + "The policy of His Majesty's Government, with which the + Government of India are in complete accord, is that of the + increasing association of Indians in every branch of the + administration and the gradual development of self-governing + institutions with a view to the progressive realization of + responsible government in India as an integral part of the + British Empire. They have decided that substantial steps in this + direction should be taken as soon as possible, and that it is of + the highest importance, as a preliminary to considering what + these steps should be, that there should be a free and informal + exchange of opinion between those in authority at home and in + India. His Majesty's Government have accordingly decided, with + His Majesty's approval, that I should accept the Viceroy's + invitation to proceed to India to discuss these matters with the + Viceroy and the Government of India, to consider with the + Viceroy the views of local Governments, and to receive with him + the suggestions of representative bodies and others. I would add + that progress in this policy can only be achieved by successive + stages. The British Government and the Government of India on + whom the responsibility lies for the welfare and advancement of + the Indian peoples, must be the judges of the time and measure + of each advance, and they must be guided by the co-operation + received from those upon whom new opportunities of service will + thus be conferred and by the extent to which it is found that + confidence can be reposed in their sense of responsibility. + Ample opportunity will be afforded for public discussion of the + proposals, which will be submitted in due course to Parliament." + + In accordance with this declaration, the Secretary of State left + for India in October, and has since been in consultation with + the Government of India and deputations representative of all + interests and parties in India in regard to the advances which + should be made in Indian constitutional development in the + immediate future. No reports as to the results of these + discussions had been made public by the end of the year. + + Another important decision relating to India was that whereby + the Government abandoned the rule which confines the granting of + commissions in the Indian army to officers of British + extraction. A number of Indian officers, who have served with + distinction in the war, have already received commissions. + +Who, only twenty years ago, would have believed that the day was so near +at hand when this Asiatic vast and populous country, called India, would +be most earnestly considering, through numerous representatives, in +consultation with the British Government, the proper steps to be taken +"FOR THE GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS WITH A VIEW +TO THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN INDIA AS AN +INTEGRAL PART OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE." In every way, it is a most +extraordinary political evolution. If it reaches the admirable +conclusion aimed at--for which success every true friend of Political +Liberty will fervently pray--it will have realized one of the greatest +constitutional achievements of modern times. + +Behold just now how safely and wisely this Indian evolution is +proceeding under the experienced direction of British statesmanship. It +is "TO BE ACHIEVED BY SUCCESSIVE STAGES", declares the Secretary of +State for India, speaking in the name of the whole British responsible +Cabinet. Such have been accomplished all the constitutional developments +which have wrought so much perfection for British free institutions. + +True progress, in every form, is never revolutionary. And why? For the +very reason that instead of fighting for destruction by brute force, it +aims at perfecting by regular advances in the right direction, by +successive improvements which experience justifies, which reason, +intelligence and wisdom approve, which political sense recommends, which +sound moral principles authorize and sanction. + +A country favoured with the free British constitutional regime is not +the land where bolshevikism of any grade or stamp, can flourish and bear +fruits of desolation and shame. + +The wonderful Indian country, for so many centuries tortured by +intestine troubles, at last rescued by England from that barbarous +situation, given a reorganized administration able to maintain interior +peace, favoured by British business experience and capital with material +progress in many ways, specially in transportation facilities, may soon +see--let us hope--the dawn of the glorious days of a large measure of +political freedom and responsible government. + +Far away indeed from the perilous Imperialism abhorred by our much +depressed "Nationalists" is India safely moving. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS OF THE EMPIRE. + + +Though very difficult to say what they will be, I thought proper, for +the better information of my French Canadian readers, to consider some +of the suggestions which of late years have been repeatedly made. + +Mr. Bourassa, in his recent pamphlets, reviewing the situation from his +wrong and prejudiced standpoint, has decidedly come out in favour of +Canadian Independence. The least that can be said is that the time was +very badly chosen to raise the question. To select the moment when the +Motherland was engaged in a fight for life or death, to propose to run +away from the assailed home where we had lived many happy years, was +certainly not an inspiration of loyal devotion and gratitude. I am glad +to say that the wild proposition met with no countenance on the part of +our French Canadian compatriots. + +To the point raised in England, some years ago, that it was not to be +supposed that the British Empire was destined to exist forever, one of +the leading British statesmen of the day, then a member of the Cabinet, +answered that, though it was likely to be true that the British +Commonwealth would not be eternal, like many other great political +societies of times gone by, it was surely not the particular duty of a +British minister to do his best to hasten the day of the final downfall +of the country he was sworn to maintain. The rejoinder was no doubt +peremptory. It can very properly be used in answer to Mr. Bourassa's +plea for the independence of Canada. + +However, the question having been so unwisely raised, to say the least, +for the obvious purpose of disheartening the French Canadians from their +present situation and raising in their minds extravagant hopes of a +change for the better, I believed it advisable to tell them not to be +carried away by dreams of a too far distant possible realization. + +In all frankness, I must say that I have never taken any stock in the +suggestion made from time to time, for the last fifty years, in favour +of Canadian Independence. It always seemed to me that our destinies were +not moving along that way. In my opinion, which nothing has happened to +alter, the steady growth of the consolidation of the Empire was yearly +working against the assumption of the prospective independence of the +Dominion. + +But even supposing that the course of events would change and put an end +to British connection, could we pride ourselves with having at last, +though in a very peaceful way, achieved our national independence? I am +more and more strongly impressed by the paramount consideration that, +nominally independent, Canada would be very little so in reality. +Situated as she would be, she could not help being under the +protectorate of the United States. I have always thought so. I think it +more firmly than ever, when I see looming larger every day on the +American political horizon the fact that the neighbouring Republic will +come out of the present war with flying Colours, taking rank as one of +the most powerful nations on earth. + +Be that as it may, there is every certainty that the question of +Canadian Independence is not within the range of practical politics. Mr. +Bourassa's proposition is doomed to the failure it deserves. + +Consequently, it is much better to try and foresee what the future +political conditions of Canada are more likely to be after the close of +the hostilities. And this must be done with the only purpose of wisely, +and patriotically,--in the larger sense of the word--contributing our +due share to the sound and solid framing of the changes, if any, which +the best interests of the Empire, generally, and of all her component +parts, in particular, may require. + +We have not, and I most earnestly hope and pray that we shall not have, +to consider what new political conditions would be as the consequence of +the defeat of the Allies, or even as necessitated by a peace treaty due +to a compromise. We must only look ahead for the encouraging days to +follow the victory won by the united efforts and heroism of the nations +who have rallied to put an end to Prussian militarism. + +One certainty is daily becoming more evident. All loyal British subjects +will applaud the triumphant close of the war with the desire to do their +best to maintain and consolidate the Empire they will have saved from +destruction at the cost of so much sacrifices of heroic lives and +resources. + + +NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. + +The great objection raised by Mr. Bourassa against the participation of +Canada in the wars of the Empire is that the Dominion is not represented +in the Parliament to which the British ministers, advising the Sovereign +on all matters of foreign relations, are responsible. He draws the +conclusion that the Colonies are called upon to pay for the war +expenditures of Great Britain in violation of the constitutional +principle:--NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. The principle is no +doubt true. But it is altogether wrong to pretend that so far it has +been violated to coerce the Dominion to participate in the wars which +England has been obliged to wage. Our "Nationalists" would be right in +their opposition if the Imperial Parliament had attempted to pass laws +compelling the autonomous Colonies to contribute men and money to a +conflict. Had they claimed the right to raise revenues in Canada by an +Imperial statute, we would certainly have been entitled to affirm that +not being represented in the British House of Commons, we could not be +taxed in any way for any Imperial purpose--war or others. + +Nothing of the kind has ever been done, ever been attempted, even ever +been hinted at. + +The argument falls entirely to the ground, shattered to pieces, from the +fact that Canada has only participated in the wars of the Empire of her +own free will, in the full enjoyment of her constitutional rights. +Whatever sums of money the Dominion has to pay for the conflicts into +which we have freely and deliberately decided to intervene, are +perceived by the Canadian treasury in virtue of laws passed by our +federal Parliament upon the advice of our responsible Cabinet. + +Last year, the people of Canada were called upon to elect new members of +our House of Commons. The citizens of the Dominion had the undoubted +constitutional right to pass condemnation on the ministers and on the +members of Parliament who had voted for the participation in the war +with men and money. They could have elected a new House of Commons to +discontinue such participation and recall our army from Europe. But had +they not the equally undoubted right to do what they have done by such a +solemn expression of a decided and matured opinion:--approve and order +to fight until victory is won? + +In accepting with deep gratitude the noble and patriotic support we, +Canadians, were giving her in the most terrible crisis of her Sovereign +existence, was England in any way violating any of our cherished +constitutional privileges? No sensible, no reasonable, no unprejudiced +man can so pretend. The case being such as it is, there is not the +shadow of common sense in the assertion that Canada is taxed without +representation for Imperial war purposes. + + +COLONIAL REPRESENTATION. + +If the question of Colonial representation is raised at the special +Imperial Conference to be held as soon as possible after the war, Mr. +Bourassa and his friends will not be welcomed to cry if it is settled +very differently from their wishes, after their unwise clamour for an +excursion into the unknown. + +The question of the readjustment of the constitutional relations of the +component parts of the Empire, when duly brought up, will very likely +take a wide range, so far at least as consideration goes. What will be +the conclusions arrived at, nobody knows. + +Pending that time, any one is allowed to express his own views. I +thought proper to explain mine in my book dedicated to the French +Canadians. I now summarize them as follows:-- + +Would it be advisable to have the Colonies represented in the present +Imperial Parliament? After full consideration of the question, I must +say that I have finally dismissed it from my mind as utterly +impracticable. Can it be supposed for a moment that the electors of +Great Britain would agree to have the Dominions overseas and India +represented in their House of Commons, to participate in the government +of the United Kingdom for all purposes? With representation in the +present British House of Commons, would the Colonies be also represented +in the British Cabinet, to advise the Crown on all matters respecting +the good government of England? + +Would the Colonies be represented according to their population in the +British House of Commons? If they were, India alone would have a number +of representatives five times larger than all the other parts of the +Empire. + +Is it within the range of possibility that the people of Great Britain +would consent to colonial representatives interfering, even controlling +the management of their internal affairs, whilst they would have no say +whatever in the internal government of the Colonies? + +Would the colonial ministers in the British Cabinet be constitutionally +responsible to the people of the United Kingdom without holding their +mandate from them? + +Such a system would be so absurd, so radically impossible, that it is +not necessary to argue to prove that it would not work for one single +year. + +In my opinion, Colonial representation would be practicable only with +the creation of a new truly Imperial Parliament, the present British +Parliament to continue to exist but with constitutional powers reduced +to the management of the internal affairs of the United Kingdom. If such +is the scheme of the "Nationalists," then they are converts to that +Imperial Federation which they have vehemently denounced for years, and +to the largest measure possible of that Imperialism which has been +cursed with their worst maledictions. + +If ever complete Imperial Federation becomes an accomplished fact, how +will it be organized? Will the new Imperial Parliament consist of one +Sovereign, one House of Lords--or Senate--one House of Commons? + +Would the Sovereign be King or Emperor? I, for one, would prefer the +word EMPEROR. He might be titled His Majesty the Emperor of the British +Commonwealth and the King of Great Britain. + +With Imperial Federation--a regime of complete Imperial autonomy--the +word "colonies" would no longer apply. Would Canada, Australia, South +Africa, India, New Zealand be called Kingdoms, like Prussia, Bavaria, +Saxony, Wurtemberg, of the German Empire? + +Evidently, the constitutional powers of the new Parliament would be +limited to external relations, to strictly Imperial affairs. + +The new constitutional organization of the British Empire would combine +Imperial, National and Provincial autonomy, each operating within the +well defined limits of their respective privileges and attributions. + +Under such a regime, there would be three sorts of responsible Cabinets: +The Imperial Cabinet responsible to the whole Imperial electorate; the +National Cabinets of the component Kingdoms of the British Empire +responsible to the electorate of each one of those Kingdoms +respectively; the Provincial Cabinets responsible to the electors of +each province respectively. + +The Royal--or rather Imperial--Prerogative to declare war and to make +peace would be exercised upon the responsibility of the Imperial +Cabinet. + +To the new Imperial Parliament would undoubtedly be given the right and +the duty to provide for Imperial defense. They would have to organize an +Imperial army and an Imperial navy for the protection of the whole +Empire. + +The whole of the reorganized Empire would have to pay the whole of the +expenditures required for Imperial purposes, defense and others, on land +and sea, out of revenues raised by laws of the Imperial Parliament. + +Under the new Imperial constitutional regime, would the Imperial +Parliament be given the authority to regulate Imperial trade and +commerce, the Imperial postal service, &c.? + +Would the new Parliament have the exclusive right to approve commercial +treaties sanctioned by His Majesty the Emperor, upon the advice of his +responsible Imperial Cabinet, without reference whatever to the National +Parliaments of the component Kingdoms? + +How easily is it ascertained that numerous questions of paramount +importance are at once brought to one's mind the moment the vast problem +of a new and greater Imperial Commonwealth is considered. Shortsighted +and inexperienced are the politicians and the publicists who imagine +that it could be given a satisfactory solution after hasty and +insufficient deliberations. It is very reassuring to know that the +matter necessarily being suggested for consideration at the Imperial War +Conference, last year, it was immediately decided, by a "Resolution," +adopted on the proposition of the Canadian Prime Minister, "THAT THE +READJUSTMENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS OF THE COMPONENT PARTS OF +THE EMPIRE IS TOO IMPORTANT AND INTRICATE A SUBJECT TO BE DEALT WITH +DURING THE WAR." + +What would be the real meaning of such a radical change? It is worth +while to enquire at once. + +The British Empire would no longer comprise a Metropolis holding +autonomous Colonies and Crown Colonies, but would be organized in a new +Sovereign State with an Imperial Parliament to which all the component +parts--or Kingdoms--would send representatives. + +Indeed it would be a grand, a magnificent, political edifice. But to +find shelter under it, Canada would have to renounce her right to decide +alone, and freely, to participate, or not, in the wars of the Empire, to +determine alone what her military organization should be, to raise +ourselves, without the intervention of a superior Parliament, the +revenue which we consider proper to apply to Imperial purposes. + +I, for one, do not foresee that such an important constitutional change, +if ever it is made, will be suddenly brought about, in the dark, as the +result of the machinations of a most mischievous Imperialism inspiring +our "Nationalists" with shivering terror. It is positively sure that no +one holding a responsible political position, or having a responsible +standing in the British political world, will ever be mad enough to +propose, suggest, or even hint, to build a new Imperial structure +without the solid foundation of the deliberate consent of all the +Colonies, of all the would-be component parts of such a vast +Commonwealth. + +How many years of serious discussion, of earnest consideration, did it +not take to bring about the creation of the Canadian, Australian and +South African Dominions. It cannot be reasonably imagined that the +creation of the new and greater Imperial Commonwealth will be a much +easier task to accomplish with the necessary conditions of successful +durability. + +I also thought proper in my French book to write a few lines on the +important question respecting the mode of ascertaining the deliberate +consent of the Colonies to any intended readjustment of the +constitutional relations of the component parts of the Empire, specially +if it was proposed to rear a new and larger political fabric. I did so +because of late it has been frequently suggested to use the _plebiscit_ +or the _referendum_ as the most opportune way to consult public opinion. + +I must say that, without going to the length of denying that a public +consultation may, in a particular case, be advantageously made by way of +a _plebiscit_ or _referendum_, I am not a strong believer in the +efficiency of either proposition, and why? Because I cannot help +considering them as more or less contrary to the solid constitutional +principle of ministerial responsibility which they would gradually +undermine if frequently appealed to. + +I feel specially adverse to the _plebiscit_, because History proves +that, by nature, it engenders DESPOTISM, CÆSARISM. Contemporary history +offers two striking examples never to be forgotten. + +Napoleon the First, whose power was the legitimate result of his +wonderful genius and of his eminent services to France, wanted his +dynasty to rest on the _plebiscitary_ foundation. Millions of +votes--almost the unanimity of French public opinion--answered +enthusiastically to his call. He was not such a man as to refuse the +chance offered him to exercise a supreme power so manifestly tendered +to him. All know that he very soon unbridled his devouring ambition and +ruled France with all the might of an absolutism strengthened by the +glories of military campaigns truly marvellous. To any attempt at +freedom of criticism, he could reply that his Imperial power--mightily +supported by his commanding genius--was strongly entrenched on the +unanimity of opinion of the French nation expressed by the result of the +plebiscit. + +Napoleon III, favoured by the immortal prestige of his glorious uncle, +but far behind him in genius, though intellectually well gifted, as he +proved it during his Presidential term of the second French Republic and +during the first years he occupied the Imperial Throne of France, used +the plebiscit to have his famous _coup d'Etat_ of the second day of +December 1851, prepared with consummate skill and carried out with great +energy, ratified by the nation by an overwhelming majority of several +millions of votes. He lost no time in drawing the final result of this +first great success and in reaching the term of his ambition. The tide +of popular enthusiasm was all flowing his way, carrying him to the +Throne elevated for his uncle who had lost it after the hurricane which +exhausted its strength at Waterloo. On the second of December of the +following year--1852--the second French Empire was proclaimed to the +international world. Following the example and the precedent of the +first Bonaparte, Napoleon III also decided to use the plebiscit to +legitimate his Imperial power. He triumphantly carried the day by some +seven millions of votes--almost the unanimous voice of the French +people. + +Thus, in less than half a century, after having twice tried the +Republican system of government, and, in both cases, having overdone by +deplorable excesses the experiment of Political Liberty--more specially +during the years of terrorism of the first Republic--France, by a +regular reaction, went back to the other extreme, and reestablished +arbitrary power not, in the two instances, upon the principle of the +Divine Right of the ancient Monarchy, but on that of the Sovereignty of +the people, as expressed by the certain will of the whole nation. But +ABSOLUTISM, whether the outcome of Divine Right or of popular +sovereignty, is always the same and steadily works against the true +principles of Political Liberty. + +It is a great mistake to suppose that ABSOLUTISM is possible only under +monarchical institutions. The terrorist republican epoch, in France, +from 1792 to 1795, was ABSOLUTISM of the worst kind, really with a +vengeance. As much can be said of the present political situation in +Russia, which has substituted REVOLUTIONARY ABSOLUTISM to that of the +decayed Imperial regime, suddenly brought to a tragic end by the +pressure of events too strong for its crumbling fabric, shaken to its +foundation by a most unwise reactionary movement which only precipitated +its downfall, instead of averting it, as extravagantly expected by the +Petrograd Court, which betrayed Russia in favour of Germany, and +unconsciously opened the road which led the weak and unfortunate Czar to +his lamentable fate. + +In my humble opinion, PLEBISCITARY CÆSARISM is not compatible with a +system of ministerial responsibility for all the official acts of the +Sovereign. + +The frequent use of the plebiscit would certainly tend to diminish in +the mind of political leaders the true sense of their responsibility. It +would too often offer an easy way out of an awkward position without the +consequence of having to give up power. + +If I understand right the real meaning of the two words: _plebiscit_ and +_referendum_, the first would be used to try and ascertain how public +opinion stands upon any given question of public policy, of proposed +public legislation: the second would be employed for the ratification by +the electorate of a law passed by Parliament. I have less objection to +the second system which, in reality, is an appeal from Parliament to the +Electorate. But to the well practised, the adverse vote of a majority of +the electors should have the same result as a vote of the majority of +the House of Commons rejecting an important public measure upon the +carrying of which the Cabinet has ventured their existence. + +Without the immediate resignation of the ministers meeting with a +reverse in a _referendum_, I consider that ministerial responsibility +would soon become a farce destructive of constitutional government. The +defeat of a Cabinet in a _referendum_ would be equivalent to one in +general elections and should bear out the same consequence. + +Surely, no one having some clear notions of what MINISTERIAL +RESPONSIBILITY means, will pretend for a moment that a Cabinet who, on +being defeated in the House of Commons, advises the Sovereign--or his +representative in Canada--to dissolve Parliament for an appeal to the +people, could remain in power if the Electorate approved of the hostile +stand taken by the House of Commons. + +I can see no difference whatever in the meaning of an hostile referendum +vote and that following a regular constitutional appeal from an adverse +majority of the popular House of representatives. In both cases, the +downfall of the defeated ministers should be the result. + +From the above comments, I draw the sound conclusion, I firmly believe, +that any important readjustment of the constitutional relations of the +Colonies with Great Britain, should be first ratified by the actual +Parliaments of the Dominions and subsequently by the electors of those +Dominions. But I am also strongly of opinion that the ratification by +the electorate should be taken upon the ministerial responsibility of +the Cabinet who would have advised the Sovereign and asked Parliament +to approve the proposed readjustment. It would be the safest way to have +the Cabinet to consider the question very seriously before running the +risk of a popular defeat which would have to be followed by their +resignation. + +Another most important reason to quiet the fears of our "alarmists" at +an impending wave of flooding Imperialism, is that any radical change in +the constitutional relations of England with her Colonies for the unity +and consolidation of the Empire, should be adopted by the Parliaments +and the Electorates of all the Colonies to be affected by the new +conditions. + +Consequently, from every standpoint the Dominions and the Empire herself +are guaranteed against the dangers of rashness in changing the present +status of the great British Commonwealth. + + +THE FAR OFF FUTURE. + +Though it may be of little use, and perhaps perplexing, to look too far +ahead to try and foresee what the distant future has in store for the +generations to come, still a simple call to common sense tells one that +the political destinies of any Commonwealth are, in a long course of +time, largely and necessarily shaped by the increases in population and +wealth, irrespective of the actual more or less harmonious working of +present and immediately prospective constitutional institutions. + +Broadly speaking, was it to be supposed, for instance, that the two wide +continents of America would have, when peopled by hundreds of millions, +continued in a condition of vassalage to the European continent, though +owing their discovery and early settlements to European genius and +enterprise? No doubt the growing national families of the New World +would have liked a much longer stay under the roofs where they were +born, had they received better and kinder treatment from their fatherly +States. But at best the hour of separation would only have come later, +postponed as it would have been by the bonds of enduring affection made +more lasting by mutual good relations. Do we not see, almost daily, +desolated homes often the sad result of senseless misunderstandings, or +of guilty outbursts of intemperate passions? Yet, family home life, even +when blessed by the inspiring smile of a lovely wife, the sweet voice of +a devoted mother, the manly and Christian example of a good father, the +affectionate sentiments of well bred children, is far too short under +the most favourable circumstances. And why? Because it has to follow the +Divine decree ordering separation for the building of new homes, to keep +Humanity advancing towards the final conclusion of her earthly +existence. + +Had the American colonies been favoured by the constitutional liberties +the Dominion of Canada enjoys, they would not have revolted and British +connection would have endured many years longer. Still, one cannot +conclude that those British provinces, realizing the marvellous +development all can witness, would have for ever agreed to be satisfied +with their colonial status. When they would have grown taller and bigger +than the mother-country, most likely Great Britain herself would have +taken the initiative of a friendly separation followed by a close +alliance which would have perpetuated the familial bond actually so +happily restored. + +As prophesied by Sir Erskine May, more than half a century ago, in +speaking of the probable future of the then British colonies, the +American Republic would _have grown out of the dependencies of the +British Empire_. + +And to-day, when the United States are doing such a gigantic effort, +conjointly with the whole British Empire, to save Humanity from German +cruel domination, England, to use the very words of the distinguished +writer and historian just cited, "MAY WELL BE PROUDER OF THE VIGOROUS +FREEDOM OF HER PROSPEROUS SON THAN OF A HUNDRED PROVINCES SUBJECT TO THE +IRON RULE OF BRITISH PRO-CONSULS." + +The possibilities of the material development of the Dominions of +Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa--without counting India +and the lesser colonies--on account of their immense natural resources, +are such as to justify very great hopes for their future. The time will +come when they will number together a much larger population than the +United Kingdom. Will the British Empire, as foreseen by one of the +greatest political minds Canada has produced, declared by his chief and +worthy opponent the equal to the celebrated William Pitt, then develop +into a grand Commonwealth of nations. + +If so, as wrote Sir Erskine May, England "_will reflect, with +exultation, that her dominion ceased, not in oppression and bloodshed +but in the expansive energies of freedom, and the hereditary capacity of +her manly offspring for the privileges of self-government_." + +Several generations will certainly rise and disappear before such an +important question, looming far off in the future, is likely to be--if +ever--raised requiring a practical solution. But foreseeing such a +distant possibility, it is still more our bounden duty to be true to our +present and prospective obligations for many years to come, as +foreshadowed by the actual course of events shaping themselves in the +sense of the consolidation of the Empire which may never be really +dissolved even by the separation of her manly _offspring_. Family bonds, +strengthened by deep affection, are not broken because the faithful boy, +grown up a healthy and strong man, leaves to go under his own blessed +roof, taking with him to his last day the cherished recollections of the +happy days he has passed in the equally blessed parental home. + +One of our most ardent desires must be that our successive generations +of children be so well trained to the intelligent and patriotic use of +Political Liberty, as to accumulate, in due course of time, an admirable +heritage of sound principles of self-government enriched by the +honourable examples of our faithful loyalty to the Mother land never +grudged to her, but given with overflowing measure, not only as a matter +of duty, but also as a reward from grateful subjects for the regard and +respect always paid to their constitutional rights and privileges. + +If such is ever the natural outcome of our political achievements, the +vast Empire reared with such a great success would truly survive +separation, being merely transformed into a splendid galaxy of +independent States still bound together by the strong ties created by +centuries of reciprocal devotedness. It would constitute a real league +of nations working in concert and with grandeur for the peace and the +prosperity of the whole world. + + +A MACHIAVELLIAN PROPOSITION. + +On reading Mr. Bourassa's pamphlet entitled:--_Yesterday, To-day, +To-morrow_, I discovered what I have qualified a _Machiavellian +proposition_. What _Machiavellism_ means is well known. It expresses the +views of that most corrupt and contemptible politician and publicist, +called MACHIAVEL, born at Florence, in 1649. + +At page 140 of the above mentioned pamphlet, Mr. Bourassa wrote:-- + +"I WILL SPEAK MY MIND OPENLY--_JE VOUS LIVRE TOUTE MA PENSÉE_--: IF IN +DEFAULT OF INDEPENDENCE, I CLAIM IMPERIAL REPRESENTATION, IT IS BECAUSE +IT WOULD WEAKEN THE MILITARY ORGANIZATION OF ENGLAND,--_l'armature de +guerre de l'Angleterre_--PRECIPITATE THE DISSOLUTION OF HER EMPIRE, +HASTEN THE DAY OF DELIVERANCE, FOR US AND FOR THE WHOLE WORLD." + +Such are the loyal sentiments expressed by the "Nationalist" leader. He +clamours for the Imperial representation of the Colonies, for the +solemnly avowed object to use the privilege for the destruction of the +Empire. To achieve this end he declares that the military power of +England must first be weakened. + +No wonder then that he started his "Nationalist" campaign by fighting +with all his might the two successive proposals of contribution to the +great military naval fleet of Great Britain. + +No wonder that he opposed Canada's intervention in favour of England in +the South African war. + +No wonder that from the outbreak of the hostilities, in 1914, until the +day when he was shut up by the Order-in-Council censuring all disloyal +speaking and writing detrimental to the winning of the war, he has tried +to move heaven and earth to prevent Canada's participation in the +conflict. + +He tells his countrymen that if he has become a convert to Imperial +representation--in other words, Imperial Federation--it is because he +considers it would be the best way of ruining the Empire and of +delivering, not only Canada, but the whole world from British +domination. + +For fear that the French Canadians, whom he especially wished to +influence, would not be very easily caught in the disloyal trap, he +tries hard to prevail upon them by the following reasons:-- + +"_If we are not sufficiently clear-sighted and energetic to work for +this salutary object by the most constitutional, the most British, means +at our disposal, others, happily, will do it for us._ + +"_The English-Canadians, the Australians, the New Zealanders persistingly +claim representation in the government of the Empire. When the war is +over, their claims will be reaffirmed with increased ampleness and +energy. The Indians (les Hindous) themselves will do the same. Shall we +remain alone to rot stupidly (croupir béatement) in colonial +abjection._" + +Without the slightest doubt, there are many English-Canadians, +Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Indians, in favour of +Colonial Imperial representation. The number is increasing and likely to +increase. But Mr. Bourassa is absolutely, I might as well say, absurdly, +mistaken, if he really believes that they do so for his own purpose of +destroying the British Empire. They want the very reverse: their object +is TO CONSOLIDATE THE EMPIRE, not TO DISSOLVE HER. They will not accept +as a very flattering compliment Mr. Bourassa's charge that their desire +to strengthen the British Commonwealth proves that they prefer to +continue _stupidly rotting in colonial abjection_ rather than work for +their deliverance from British domination. + +But what in the world has brought the "Nationalist" leader to the +conclusion that the surest way to save Canada from the peril of +Imperialism was to secure Imperial representation for the treasonable +purpose, on entering the fort, to pull down the flag and destroy the +whole Empire? To frighten his French Canadian compatriots with terror at +the slightest move in favour of an increased Imperialism, he waves +before them, with wild gesticulation, any and every extravagant writings +he lays his hand on preaching a ridiculous expansion of Imperialist +aspirations. He is perhaps the only man in Canada who has read a most +absurd work which he pretends to have been written by a General named +Lea, and from which, in horror stricken, he summarized a few +unbelievable views. + +Mr. Bourassa said that General Lea, _gifted with an astonishing +foresight, predicted all that was happening in Europe and in the world. +The General_, again affirms Mr. Bourassa, _has proved in a striking way +that if England wishes to maintain her Empire and to continue exercising +her domination over the world she must make the sacrifice of her +political liberties and of those of her Colonies, abolish the +Parliamentary and Representative Governments and resolutely adopt the +ironed regime of the Romans of old, of the Germans of the present day_. + +Once so brilliantly inspired, General Lea went on in a splendid manner. +He added, says Mr. Bourassa, _that England must transform her Empire +into a vast armed camp, must keep in her own hands all the powers of +command, must subdue all the non-British races to the supremacy of the +Anglo-Saxons united together by the unique thought of dominating the +world by brutal force_. + +These views--so says Mr. Bourassa--are to be found in a book entitled: +"_The Day of the Saxon_." If they have been really expressed with the +full sense given to them by Mr. Bourassa's translation into French, I +cannot say less than that they are most absurd, most extravagant. The +Nationalist leader would have proved himself a much more sensible, a +wiser man, if, laughing at such senseless notions, he had refrained from +quoting those lines for the purpose of telling the French-Canadians that +like all non-British races on earth they were doomed to be +devoured--flesh and bones--by the voracious Anglo-Saxons bent on +swallowing humanity. And to save them from such a cruel fate, he +implores them to clamour for Imperial representation with the criminal +intent of betraying their trust, and to use the honourable privilege +they would be granted to ruin the Empire they would swear to maintain +and defend. So far as the political program of General Lea is +concerned, we have not yet learned that its benevolent author was doing +much in the war to carry it out. If I had the honour to meet the +General, being presented, I presume, by Mr. Bourassa, I would ask him, +first, when and where he has discovered that England was _dominating the +world_. + +I know that there exists a great England holding a large situation on +earth. Her Empire extends to almost a fourth of the globe. Her +Sovereignty reigns over nearly four hundred million of human beings; a +truly beneficient Sovereignty, because it rules according to the wishes, +to the opinions of its subjects, managing their own affairs in virtue of +the freest political institutions in the whole world. + +I know of no England dominating, or even aspiring to dominate, the +world. Such an England only exists in the heated imagination of that +General Lea and in the minds of all those, like the Nationalist leader, +who are, or feign to be, tortured by the bugbear of military Imperialism +of the old Roman ironed type. + +As long as three-fourths of the earth will remain independent of the +British Empire, under numerous sovereignties, England's pretended +domination of the world will ever only be an extravagant dream. + +Wishing England _to continue her domination of the world_, General Lea, +no doubt to please Mr. Bourassa, was bound to suggest the means to do +so. Let us analyze them. + +1.--England _must make the sacrifice of her political liberties and of +those of her Colonies_. + +2.--She _must abolish parliamentary and representative governments_. + +It is beyond conception that Mr. Bourassa should have for one minute +seriously considered such absurd notions. + +I would enjoy attending large public meetings in Great Britain, where +General Lea would propose to British free men the sacrifice of all their +political liberties, to witness the rather warm reception he would be +favoured with. I am sure he would have to rush out of the halls much +faster than he would have walked in. + +Where is the sane man who really believes that, dreaming of a domination +of the world by _brute force_, British free men would consent to do away +with their Parliamentary system _to transform the whole of the Empire +into an armed camp_? Such a proposition was sheer madness, a most +foolish talk, unworthy of the slightest attention from sensible people. +Mr. Bourassa was very wrong in giving it publicity, and very unwise, to +say the least, in using it to frighten his French-Canadian compatriots +by blandishing before their eyes that ridiculous specimen of the phantom +of Imperialism. + +Is it to be supposed for one single instant that the British people, so +rightly proud of their political liberties, and of their representative +government, which after centuries of efforts and trials they have +successfully brought to such perfection, basing its future permanency on +the solid rock of ministerial responsibility, would consent to sacrifice +them for the sake of a vain, a ridiculous, an odious and impracticable +scheme _to dominate the world by brute force_? + +It is ten times worse than madness to believe that the British people +who have torn away from the British soil the last root of ABSOLUTISM, +would, for any earthly reason, renounce their most legitimate conquests, +to rebuild, on the burning ruins of their most sacred rights, an ironed +political regime of the old Roman or present German type! Is it to be +believed that they would agree to replace, on the glorious Throne which +they protect with all the might of their loyal affection, their present +constitutional Sovereign by a new Nero or another Wilhelm II? + +If it is with the purpose of preventing such a dire calamity that the +Nationalist leader became a convert to Imperial Federation, he is +absolutely losing his time and his energy in promoting such a regime. +If ever Imperial Federation becomes a fact, we can all rest perfectly +assured that the new Imperial Parliament will not vote their own +destruction to be replaced by an autocratic and tyrannical government. + +I hope that Mr. Bourassa is the only believer, all over Canada, in the +assertion of General Lea that England's aspirations is _to dominate the +world by brute force_. It is a most injurious, I can say, calumnious, +charge. All know, or should know, that England was the first nation to +completely abolish slavery over all her Empire; that has granted, in the +largest possible measure, Political Liberty to all her Colonies; that +guarantees to all races the same rights and privileges, never +interfering in colonial internal management. He is wilfully guilty of a +calumnious charge the man who accuses the British race to aspire to +dominate the world by an _ironed regime_, when he should know that Great +Britain ran the risk of a crushing defeat, in refusing to organize a +standing army of several millions of trained officers and men. + + +A TREASONABLE PROPOSAL. + +The Nationalist leader wants the French-Canadians to support his scheme +in order _to work for the salutary object of demolishing the British +Empire by the so very constitutional means of Imperial Federation_. How +he has failed to realize the infamous kind of suggestion he was making +will always be a wonder to all those reading it. + +If, sooner or later, Great Britain and her Colonies are politically +organized as an Imperial Federation, the Province of Quebec will have +several French-Canadian representatives in the new Greater Imperial +Parliament. The Nationalist leader wants those French-Canadian Members +to go to London pledged to destroy the Empire to which they will have +to swear allegiance and fealty before crossing the threshold of the +House of Commons and taking their seats. Does he not understand that any +French-Canadian doing what he wishes and recommends would deliberately +perjure himself? Does he not comprehend that he was paying a rather poor +compliment to his British countrymen from Canada, Australia, New Zealand +and India, when he affirmed, without the shadow of truth, that they +would elect to the Imperial Parliament members holding the mandate from +them to work for the dissolution of the Empire? + +I notice, with surprise, that in the enumeration he has drawn of the +future destroyers of the future federated British Empire, he has not +convened his friends, the Boers, to his holy task. Does he not consider +them as _farsighted_ and _energetic_ as the others he has pompously +mentioned with such childish illusion. Or, has he not, unconsciously, +paid them the high compliment to suppose that they would be unable to +accomplish the treasonable act which, with confidence, and even +certainty, he expects from the others. Our countrymen, the Boers of +South Africa, have, by a large majority, become so loyal to the Crown, +to the Empire,--and they have so gloriously proved it since the outbreak +of the war--that it is manifestly evident that they are very well +satisfied with their present position, that they have dispelled from +their minds all bitter recollections of the struggle which, a few years +ago, finally brought them within the Empire they are doing such a noble +effort to maintain and save from the German tyrannical grasp. + +The following views, recently expressed, in London, by Mr. Burton, +Minister of Railways and Harbours in the Government of South Africa, a +leading public man of the far away sister Dominion, is refreshing +reading after Mr. Bourassa's outrageous outburst above quoted. He +said:-- + +"_One of the motives which prompted South African support of the British +cause was the fact, which appealed not only to the English-speaking +population, but moved the Dutch population--the fact that the British +cause had embraced all the progressive peoples of the world. It was not +Britain's wealth, or influence, or power that appealed to them; it was +the priceless privilege of the maintenance of our constitutional +liberties. He could illustrate their attitude by a single incident which +had come within his own experience in connection with a Transvaaler, +born and bred, whom he had questioned as to his future in the military +service in which he was an officer. The officer replied that he had been +through the German South-West African campaign, that he was going +through the German East African campaign, and when that was done he +intended making for Flanders. He added: "I mean that as a man I could +not act otherwise in view of the treatment dealt out to us by Great +Britain. If she had not done what she did for us I should not have +stirred hand or foot._"" + +No one need be surprised that the South African Dominion is suffering a +little from the "Nationalist" fever, a disease infesting many countries, +in various degrees, and with time cured by the safe remedy of the sound +common sense of the people. We know too much about it ourselves, after +nearly eighty years of free responsible government, to wonder at the +fact that a small minority of the Dutch South Africans--from the Boer +element--is not yet fully reconciled with their lot under the British +Crown. They apparently dream of Republicanism, in sullen recollection of +a recent past which only some of the present generation still regret, +but which the next will strive to cherish only as the stepping stone to +their actual status so full of good promises for their future. The few +South Africans suffering from this virus are almost exclusively +recruited amongst the populations of the late Republics of South Africa. +The people of the provinces of Natal and Cape Colony, with a long +experience of British rule, have no faith in the "republican +nationalism" desired by some, which does not in the least appeal to +their good sense and their sound political foresight. Mr. Burton +believes "_that the instigators of the movement are looking for votes +more than for anything else_." + +Mr. Burton, moreover, truly said:-- + +"_It was part of the history of all countries that what was called +"Nationalism" made a powerful appeal to the finer classes of young men. +It was an admirable sentiment, but what was complained of in South +Africa was that the sentiment was expended upon a wrong conception of +"nationalism" and what nationhood should be. In South Africa it was +restricted, it was sectional, and practically racial. The energy and +activity displayed were being spent upon a mistaken cause._" + +Every word of this quotation applies with still greater force to the +"nationalism" of the Province of Quebec. + +Mr. Burton goes on saying:-- + +"_It was the cause of South Africa first--as it should be--but it was +more than that. It was South Africa first, last, and all the time, and +South Africa alone. He and those who were associated with him could not +accept that view. It would mean ruinous chaos in South Africa. They had +obligations to Great Britain. It was not merely that they had received +recognition from the beginning that their Constitutional cause was just. +It was not merely that Great Britain in its relation with South Africa +had been actuated by that beneficent influence which the British system +of liberty effected under the sway of its flag throughout the world, but +it was that the people of the Union realized the true inward +significance of the struggle in which the Empire was engaged. They knew +that the world's freedom was at stake, and with it their own. The people +in South Africa had long ago awakened to this great fact, and they were +realizing it more and more as the war went on. When he had spoken of +putting "South Africa first" as the motto of a party he wished it to be +understood that he and the people of South Africa generally accepted it, +as every nation was bound to accept it. But they also realized that +their future as a nation and their freedom as a nation were at stake, +and that their interests were bound up with those of the British +Empire._ + +"_It was because they realized that fact that the Government of the +Union had in these troublous times nailed its flag to the mast. It was +the honourable course, the right course, and they had stuck to it +through good report and ill report, and through much trial and +sacrifice. His last message as representative of the Union Government +was: Upon that attitude of the Union Government they might depend to the +very last. They might be forced--he did not see any present prospect of +it--to abandon office, but so long as they were in office they would +adhere absolutely in the letter and in the spirit to the undertaking +they had given and would continue in the path they had followed +hitherto._" + +Sensible, truly political and patriotic, noble words, indeed. Are they +not the complete expression of the powerful wave of enthusiasm which +spread throughout the length and breadth of the whole British Dominions +overseas, when, after exhausting to the last drop her efforts to +maintain peace, Great Britain, in honour bound, threw her gallant sword +in the balance in which the destinies of the world were to be weighed +during the frightful years of the most terrific thundering storm ever +witnessed by man? + +How weighty those words are is evident. They are still more so by the +fact that they positively and firmly express the views and sentiments of +the two most trusted and illustrious leaders of the Boers, who, both of +them, took a very prominent part in the South African war, as generals +commanding the forces of the South African Republics: General Botha and +General Smuts. + +General Botha is, and has been for several years, the Prime Minister of +the South African Dominion. General Smuts is minister of Defence in +General Botha's Cabinet. He is the representative of the Government of +the Union of South Africa in the Imperial War Cabinet. In June, 1917, he +was, moreover, "invited to attend the meetings of the British War +Cabinet during his stay in the British Isles." + +Both General Botha and General Smuts have often spoken about the present +relations of their great Dominion with England. The press of the whole +British Empire has published their speeches, most favourably commented +by that of the Allied nations. In every case, they were brilliant with +true and staunch loyalty, worthy of the real statesmen the speakers are, +in every sense fully up to what could be expected from the illustrious +military and political leaders of a valiant race deserving the respect +of all by her heroism of the past and her loyalty of present days. + +If ever Mr. Bourassa, as I hope he will, reads the above quoted lines, I +am sure he will find therein every reason to be satisfied with his +decision not to call upon the South Africans to join with him and those +he has summoned, in the unworthy task of bringing on Imperial Federation +for the very treasonable purpose of destroying the British Empire. For +once, his judgment did not fail him. + +Nobody knows if representatives from the whole present colonial +Dominions and India will ever sit, in London, as members of a new +Imperial Parliament. It is most unlikely, at all events, that any one, +merely to please Mr. Bourassa, will help building such a political +structure with the criminal and treasonable purpose of throwing it at +once to the ground with a tremendous crash. But we can all safely join +in the affirmation that in the event of such a great historical fact +being accomplished as that of a federated British Commonwealth, the +representatives of the Colonies overseas will meet in the Imperial +Capital to do their duty with loyalty and honour. I have no hesitation +whatever to pledge my word that the French Canadian representatives in +London would be amongst the most loyal to their Sovereign and to the +Empire, the most true to their oath. + +I solemnly protest against the injurious imputation the Nationalist +leader has addressed to my French Canadian compatriots in charging them +with the desire _to rot stupidly in colonial abjection_. Let us +repulse the unfounded accusation from an elevated standpoint. I feel the +utmost contempt for all kinds of narrow prejudices, of blind fanaticism. +Nations, like individuals, all pursue Providential destinies in this +human world. There is no more abjection in the colonial status than in +any other. Canada is a British colony by the decree of Providence. Every +nation--like every individual--has duties to perform in any situation +she may occupy in the course of historical events. Abjection is not the +result of the faithful discharge of duty, however trying the +circumstances may be. It would be in its violation with the guilty +intent to betray. + +A hundred times better it is to remain a colony as long as the Supreme +Ruler of the world will so order, than to attempt to break through by +the dark plot of an infamous conspiration. + +Let our destinies follow their natural development, striving to the best +of our ability and patriotism to have them to achieve the happy +conditions which we enjoy. Any man aspiring to a legitimate influence on +the mind of our compatriots, must encourage them, by words and deeds, to +faithfully accomplish their daily task in showing them the advantages of +their position. Inconveniences are the outgrowth of any political +standing. In the true Christian spirit, trials are everywhere to be met +with. Sacrifice, when necessary, ennobles national as well, and as much, +as individual life. + +It is very wrong on the part of any one to trouble the mind of our +compatriots in purposely exhibiting to their view discouraging pictures +of the difficulties of their situation. Their national existence is not, +never will, never can be, exclusively rosy. Be it as it may, who can +pretend, in good faith, that there exists, on the surface of the globe, +a population, all things considered, happier than our own. Our race +freely grows on a fertile and blessed soil which she cultivates with her +vigorous and intelligent daily toils, which she waters from the sweat of +her brow, to which she clings by all the affections of her heart, by the +noblest aspirations of her soul. On week days, proudly working on her +domains; on Sundays, kneeling before the Altars of her Church, fervently +thanking Him for past graces and gifts, she prays to the Supreme Giver +of all earthly goods to continue to favour her with peace, with order, +in the legitimate enjoyment of her liberties, together with the moral, +intellectual and material progress she is striving to deserve. + +Guilty is the man who tortures them with chimerical aspirations, who +advises them to conspire against the legitimate authority which she +must, and will, respect in spite of the seductions attempted to have her +to fail in her duty. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +OUTRAGES ARE NO REASONS. + + +The failings of human nature, the differences of temper, of the +qualities and defects of heart and soul, are such that harmony and +good-will amongst men in private life are too often difficult to secure. +The Divine precept, so frequently broken, should, however, always rule +the relations between man and man. It should, with still more constant +application, rule the relations between different races Providentially +called to live together on the same soil, under the same Sovereign +authority, enjoying the same institutions, the same liberties, protected +by the same flag. That the house divided against itself is sure to fall +is true of the nation as well as of the home. National and family +happiness and prosperity are alike dependent on the feelings of real +brotherhood which prevail in both. Any good hearted man appreciates how +much kindness of speech, courtesy of dealings, cordiality of manners, +contribute to reciprocal good-fellowship, brotherly in the home, +inspiring in the daily intercourse of citizens, patriotic in the nation +at large. The more a Sovereign State is inhabited by numerous ethnical +groups, like the British Empire and the American Republic, the more +important it is that the freedom of expressing one's opinion on all +matters of public interest should be used with fairness, with respect +for those holding different views, with due regard for the feelings +which are the natural outcome of racial developments, of cherished +recollections, of legitimate hopes. + +Such are the principles, I am most happy to say, that I have admired and +try to practice in the exercise of my rights as a citizen of the +Province where I saw the light of day, of Canada where I have lived and +hope to live all my years, of the British Empire whose loyal subject I +have been and am determined to remain to my last moment. + +How then could I have helped being shocked when I came to read the +following lines I translate as follows from page 121 of Mr. Bourassa's +pamphlet:--"_Yesterday, To-day, To-morrow_":-- + +"_Were the French Canadians to persist in their obstination to rot in +colonialism and to consider that it is for them the happiest and the +most glorious condition of existence, the English Canadians would force +them out of it. Our countrymen of the British races have grave defects: +they are_ IGNORANT, PRETENTIOUS, ARROGANT, SHORT-SIGHTED, DOMINEERING. +_They are, more than ourselves_, ROTTEN WITH MERCANTILISM. _They seem to +have lost some of the best qualities of the English people, to have +developed their faults and acquire many of the_ VICES NATURAL TO THE +WORST CATEGORY OF YANKEES. _But they have not_, LIKE US, _totally_ +ABDICATED _the_ PROUD CHARACTER _and the_ PRIMORDIOUS RIGHTS _of the +British peoples. When the war is over, they will claim, like the +Australians, the New Zealanders, and the Indians (les Hindous), a +readjustment of the powers of government_." + +Thus, in a few lines the Nationalist leader, in appealing to his +disordered imagination, has succeeded in slapping, in one single stroke, +with dynamical outrages, the faces of the English-speaking Canadians of +the three great British races, of our neighbours, the Yankees, and of +his own compatriots, the French-Canadians. How could he expect that such +vitriolic language would promote, in the Dominion, that harmony of +feelings never before so essential as at the very time he was writing +that injurious paragraph of his work, surely not intended to help +winning the war so full of the greatest consequences, for good or ill, +for the World, the British Empire, Canada, and our own Province of +Quebec. + +So far, Mr. Bourassa, having gone back on the admiration he was wont to +profess for England, in his early youth, had reserved all his assaults +for the English people. But the heart of man, once under the sway of an +unlimited and unsatisfied ambition, is bound to drop to the lowest +depths of the extremist's aberration. In the above quotation, he fires +his battery of _Kruppic_ dimensions--loaded with poisonous invectives, +at the THREE GREAT BRITISH RACES, ENGLISH, SCOTCH AND IRISH, living in +Canada. + +Had his charge been intended for the English race alone, he would have +been very particular in so saying. But, let there be no mistake about +it, he deliberately wrote _our countrymen of the British races_. +Wanting, I suppose, to prove his impartiality, he remembered that the +United Kingdom is peopled by three illustrious races represented all +over the globe by many millions of worthy sons, everywhere to be found +hard at work for the intelligent development of the resources of the +countries they live in and are rearing their children. More than four +millions of them are Canadians by birth or born in Great Britain. Many +more numerous they are in the United States where they form the solid +stock upon which the future of the Republic is firmly grounded. + +With the same thrust, Mr. Bourassa strikes at the Yankees who, we may +hope, have not trembled too much at the blow. He charges them with +having infested his poor _countrymen of the British races_ with _many of +the vices natural to the worst category of_ "YANKEEISM." Kind, cordial, +courteous, indeed he was in such a mood of tender sympathies for the +Canadian British races and their contagious cousins the Yankees of the +most corrupted class! + +However, the finest flower of the whole _bouquet--the rose par +excellence_--is the one he has gallantly presented to his +French-Canadian compatriots. He tells them with the sweetest tones of +his charming voice that they are pleased and happy to rot in +"_colonialism_." But, evidently wishing to speak to them a few +encouraging words, he mildly reminds them _that they are less rotten +with "mercantilism" than their countrymen of the British races_. + +A man can be suffering less than his more sickly brother without, for +all that, being in very good health. It is a poor consolation for the +French Canadians to hear from the Nationalist leader that they are less +infested with the mercantile virus than their brothers of the British +races. + +All those who have followed with some attention Mr. Bourassa's course +for the last twenty years, know that he is an equilibrist of the first +class. Having favoured the French Canadians with the flattering +compliment as above, he turns about and lashes them with the sweeping +slap that, contrary to the stand the Canadians of the British races +cling to with an obstination which he deigns to approve, they, the +degenerated French Canadians whom he pities so much, "_have totally +abdicated their proud character_ of old _and the primordial rights of +British subjects_." + +So, in Mr. Bourassa's opinion, his French Canadian compatriots are +infested to a high degree both with the _colonialist_ and _mercantile_ +corruptions. Hence, his fear that they are threatened with a premature +national death if they do not at once listen to his brotherly warnings. + +I have already answered the Nationalist leader's charge that the French +Canadians are stupidly rotting in "COLONIAL ABJECTION." The same reasons +refute his assumption that "COLONIALISM" is an abject status for a +people. + +A people, a race, who would enjoy living under the German autocratic +colonial rule--for which the Nationalist leader has so little +dislike--would indeed prove some disposition to _rot stupidly in +abjection_. But the divers peoples, the different races, who appreciate +all the beneficent advantages of the present British colonial rule, are +of very superior stock. They know, from the clearest conception, that +Monarchical democratic institutions are as much different from Imperial +autocratic tyranny, as true broad patriotism is far above narrow and +fanatical "Nationalism." + +I have only to say a few words about the "ROTTENNESS OF MERCANTILISM" +against which, according to Mr. Bourassa, the French Canadian are not +sufficiently protected. + +Going back to my recollections of the last sixty years, if there is a +complaint which through all my life I have heard almost daily, with deep +regret, it is that the French Canadians were not striving with +sufficient energy and perseverance to achieve a better and larger +position in the business world. Their leaders, religious, political and +civil, to induce them to increased exertions, have always pointed to the +example given them by their countrymen of the British races: by the +clear headed and far-seeing English business man, the sturdy and hard +working Scotch, the enterprising and witty Irish. Thank God, I have well +enough understood my duty to do my humble but patriotic share to favour +this progressive movement. Never, in so wisely advising the French +Canadians, any one supposed for a minute that he was leading them to the +infested pond of _mercantile corruption_. The change wished by all was +becoming more urgent. All were looking for the best means to carry it +out. Our leaders, having at their head, by right and merit, our +religious chiefs under the authority of a prince of our Church, his +Eminence the Cardinal-Archbishop of Quebec, took the initiative with an +ever increasing interest in the success they considered so important. + +The establishment of a permanent school of high commercial education and +of several technical schools was most favourably approved. Political +economy is even, in a certain measure, taught in several of our +classical colleges for secondary education. The necessity for our young +men of knowing the English language, to succeed in commercial, +industrial and financial pursuits in Canada and in the neighbouring +Republic, is more and more generally admitted. The French Canadians, +fully enjoying the undoubted right to do so, aspire to achieve an +advantageous and honourable position in commerce, in industry, in +finance, in transportation, in mine working. The more we realize this +goal of our legitimate ambition, the more we are also intensifying our +efforts to promote agricultural progress and the improvement of our +country roads. + +If, in all the branches of our national activity, we obtain the success +we hope for, one single man alone amongst us shudders at the idea that +the French Canadians will blindly destroy their race with a mortal dose +of the cursed "MERCANTILISM" so dishonourable to the British races. + +And Mr. Bourassa, instead of heartily joining with all the leaders of +his race--Cardinal, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, statesmen, political +men, judges, professional men, merchants, manufacturers, financiers,--to +favour, as much as possible, the commercial and technical training of +his compatriots, sneers at such efforts which, in his candid opinion, +are only plunging them in the irremediable depths of "MERCANTILE +CORRUPTION"! + +Are not such abominable teachings a curse to all those of the race to +which they are addressed with an unsurpassed cynicism? + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +HOW MR. BOURASSA PAID HIS COMPLIMENTS TO THE CANADIAN ARMY. + + +With a most admirable unanimity--_nemine contradicente_, as +Parliamentary procedure says--the Canadian Parliament decided at once, +at the very outbreak of the hostilities, to organize a great army to go +and defend the Empire of which the Dominion is an important component +part, and Civilization in peril from the Teutonic crushing wave of +barbarism, let loose over Belgium and France. In the most evidently +constitutional ways, the Canadian people, as a whole, as they had the +right and the bounden duty to do, approved the decision of Parliament. + +When Mr. Bourassa issued the pamphlets referred to, some four hundred +thousands volunteers had already enlisted. A large number of them--over +one hundred and sixty thousands had reached the western front--some the +eastern--where they fought valiantly, heroically, on French soil, +against the German hordes. Thousands of them had fallen on the field of +honour, resting with imperishable glory, for them and for us all, in +that ancestral land which we, and ever will, cherish. + +More than one hundred and twenty-five thousands were on British soil, +being trained for the military operations of the following spring. + +The rest of the army, in numerous thousands, was still with us, getting +organized for the noble task, and waiting to cross over the Atlantic to +go on the field of battle. + +The Canadian army had in every way merited the respect and the +admiration of all their countrymen who were very happy to so testify. + +However, in this admirable concert of praise and grateful +congratulations, a very discordant note was one day heard resounding +from the lowest inspiration of the human heart vibrating with feelings +of shameful contempt. It is found at page 105 of the pamphlet previously +quoted, and reads as follows in its naked outrageous language:-- + +"_In Canada, a militarism is being forged unparalleled in any civilized +country, a depraved and undisciplined soldiery, an armed scoundrelism, +without faith nor law, as refractory to the call of individual honour as +to the authority of its parading or patronage officers._" + +For all the treasures of the world, I would not agree to bear before my +countrymen the responsibility of such injurious words addressed to the +Canadian army whose valour is doing so much for our national honour. + +In one single masterly stroke of his poisoned pen the Nationalist leader +decrees that the Canadian army is far below the worst type of German +and Turkish soldiery, that no other civilized country is cursed with +such a degraded, undisciplined, dishonoured militarism. + +For God's sake, whence and where has such an outrageous outburst +originated? From what dark corner has the electric current been poured +out with such infernal fury? + +I shall not pretend that all our volunteers, from first to last, had +reached the saintly state of soul of their inexorable judge. As a rule +poor mortals do not jump, by a single effort, up to that degree of +Christian perfection shining with the great virtues of humility, +charity, justice--by words and deeds. We must not suppose that many of +our heroic volunteers had deserved, like their trusted friend and +admirer, Mr. Bourassa, to be canonized during their life time. That some +of them, whose past was perhaps not a very strong recommendation, have +enlisted with the laudable purpose to rehabilitate themselves in their +own self-estimation and in that of their countrymen, it is very likely. +Far from blaming them for so doing, we must congratulate them and +encourage them to persevere in the glorious task which will entitle them +to the everlasting gratitude of their country. Such has been the case in +the armies of all nations for many centuries past. + +Fortunately, far better and much more authorized judges of the devotion, +courage and patriotism of the volunteers of the great Canadian army, as +well as of the cause for the triumph of which they have offered, and in +so many cases, given their lives, were easily found. They wrote and +spoke with no uncertain voice. + +In a letter approving the publication of a very interesting pamphlet, +entitled:--"_War controversy between Catholics_"--"_La controverse de +guerre entre Catholiques_,"--His Eminence Cardinal Begin, Archbishop of +Quebec, said:-- + +"_Attentively read, as it deserves to be, this work will help to +understand and to love to the limit of devotion, (jusqu'au dévouement) +the beauty and the sovereign importance of the great cause--the +protection of the world threatened by Germanism--for which our soldiers +are so valiantly fighting together with those of England, France and +Belgium._ + +"_I pray God to bless those brave warriors and to grant peace to the +Christian world by the reestablishment of Justice and Right._" + +What an encouraging contrast! On the one hand, a publicist, with the +fury of its resounding organs, so widely used, vowing to eternal +damnation, _the armed scoundrelism which Canada is_ forging, with +conditions inferior to Teutonic and Turkish barbarism, considering that +it has reached the lowest depth of "_a degradation unparalleled in any +civilized country_." + +On the other, the Head of the Catholic Church in Canada, Cardinal Begin, +blessing in the name of God Almighty _our brave warriors who fight so +valiantly with those of England, France and Belgium_, because _they +love with true devotion the beauty and the sovereign importance of the +great cause_ to the triumph of which they sacrifice _their lives--the +protection of the world threatened by Germanism_. + +On Thursday, October 26, 1916, Archbishop Bruchesi, of Montreal, present +at a funeral service, in Notre-Dame Church, attended by many thousands, +for the glorious victims of the sacred duty of defending the cause of +the Allies, eloquently said in part:-- + +"_They (our heroes) had voluntarily enlisted. Two years ago, they +organized their Battalion, the glorious 22nd. They enlisted, conscious +that they were defending the most just of all causes, that of +Civilization, of Right, of Humanity. They enlisted with the conviction +that they would serve the interests of their country, for, when oversea, +they knew that they were defending Canada. They were young and strong; +one could not see them without admiration._ + +"_They have made their country's name and their own grand. They have for +all times immortalized themselves in History, and, by them, Canada has +been immortalized._ + +"_The war is not over; it goes on horribly, but our hearts are hopeful. +It is impossible that they should triumph the men who, during forty +years, have prepared for the greatest war and who, during two years, +have torn the world asunder and flooded the earth with blood. +Impossible that they should triumph the men who have declared this war +without a right to avenge, without a grievance to redress, without being +menaced in any way. Impossible that they should triumph those who have +torn, like a scrap of paper, a pact upon which the nations relied, +having faith in the pledged word. Impossible that they should triumph +those who have invaded the territory of valiant Belgium, whose only +fault was_: TO REMAIN TRUE TO HER HONOUR. _They shall not triumph those +who, on account of their military service, have made this war a carnage +and a butchery without precedent in History. I believe in God of all +Justice. Humanity wanted a suffering which purifies, but when mothers +shall have wept long enough, God will have His Divine word heard._ + +"_When this great work is accomplished, and when we shall sing the_ TE +DEUM _of thanksgiving, we will be able to say that Canada, that all the +Provinces of Canada, that our Province of Quebec, have deserved their +share of glory_." + +On Tuesday, November 28, 1916, at a funeral service in the Quebec +Basilica, addressing the large audience rallied to pray for the dead +heroes, Reverend Mr. Camille Roy, one of the most distinguished +professors of the Quebec Seminary, said in part:-- + +"_They went, our officers and soldiers, to serve a great cause. Several +reasons, perhaps intermingled in their conscience, have inspired their +courageous decision...._ + +"_But dominating, penetrating them all, purifying what in them was too +personal and restricted, was the thought that in doing all this they +were going to fight with heroic brothers and employ their strength to +defend what is most venerable on earth: outraged justice._ + +"_Perhaps they ignored historical secrets and diplomatic complications, +but they knew the war brutally declared, the treaties torn away, Belgium +violated, and agonizing, France mutilated and invaded, England, herself, +chased over the moving frontier of her oceans invaded; they knew the +destroyed homes, the profanated Cathedrals, the brutally murdered old +men, women and children, and the flood of barbarians rushing in +tumultuous waves over the fields of the sweetest country. They knew +that, over there, two nations to whom we are attached by our political, +or by our national, life, wanted the support of their sons far away, +that they had to battle for sacred interests in a war requiring an +endurance commanding an incessant renewal of our energies; and then, +without halting to consider if they were obliged to it by laws, they +have answered the most pressing call of their souls, and have freely +made the devoted sacrifice._" + +What other edifying contrast between the appreciation of the part played +by the Canadian army by three intellects, one overpowered by an +inexplicable hostile passion, the two others, inspired by the noblest +sentiments, rising to the sublime conception of the great sacrifice +accepted by our brave volunteers, which they express by eloquent words +who moved the hearts and brought _abundant and warm tears to the eyes of +those who_ heard or read them. + +Where one only sees _depraved_ beings more contemptible _than all those +which any other country_ could produce or _forge_, the two others, so +much superior in every way, admire, the first, THOSE WHO WENT TO DEFEND +THE MOST JUST OF ALL CAUSES, THAT OF CIVILIZATION, OF RIGHT, OF +HUMANITY; the second, THE SUPERNATURAL BEAUTY OF SACRIFICE THAT THEIR +BROTHERS IN ARMS HAVE MADE OF THEIR LIVES TO THE JUSTICE OF GOD. + +The pamphleteer cruelly attacks those who, to-morrow, will face with +unfaltering courage the guns of the enemy to defend Civilization and +avenge the martyrs of barbarity. + +The sacred orator blesses the mortal remains of our sons who have fallen +on the field of honour, on the soil of France, where our forefathers +were born and bred, with the fervent prayer of their grateful country +that knows they died heroically "FOR A GREAT CAUSE" TO DEFEND WHAT IS +MOST VENERABLE ON EARTH: "OUTRAGED JUSTICE." + +The following pages from a very eloquent Pastoral Letter by Bishop +Emard, of the diocese of Valleyfield, will, I am sure, be read with most +respectful interest by all. They are as follows:-- + + "Dear Brethren, we certainly have the right, and we even + consider that it is for us all, citizens of Canada, loyal + subjects of England, a duty to demand from God the success of + the arms of our Mother-country and of her Allies in the present + war. If we are not called upon, as a matter of faith, to pass + judgment on the true causes of the war, and to divide the + responsibilities respecting the calamity which covers Europe + with blood, we are surely allowed to think and to say that all + the circumstances actually known sufficiently prove that right + is on the side of the peoples who have checked the invasion, and + discouraged the overflowing of the enemy from his territory, in + order that the sentiment of justice may serve to support the + devotion of our soldiers, in this great conflict, called the + struggle of Civilization against barbarism. + + "The Church of Christ, always the same by her doctrine, has been + marvellously constituted by the Divine Wisdom, to adapt her + externally everywhere and always, to the infinitely varied + circumstances consequent on the diversity of peoples, of + governments, of social relations. She has never ceased to + practice, by Her Pastors and her faithful children, the great + lesson given by Christ: "=Render therefore to Cæsar the things + that are Cæsar's and to God the things that are God's=," and to + claim with the Apostle all the rights as well as accept all the + duties of citizens and subjects." + +After recalling that from the day _Divine Providence, in Her mysterious +designs_, allowed Canada to pass from the French to the English +Sovereignty, _the Church, by Her Bishops, has declared that, henceforth, +it was the duty of the French Canadians to transfer to the British +Crown, without reserve, the cordial allegiance which the King of France +had hitherto received from them_, and that since then until the present +days, the Canadian Episcopate has remained true to his course, Bishop +Emard proceeds as follows:-- + + "We are then, very dear Brethren, in perfect communion of + sentiments, action and language, with our venerable predecessors + of the Canadian Episcopate, in asking you to-day to address to + Heaven fervent prayers for the complete and final success of + England and her Allies in the frightful war which is covering + the earth with such unheard of horrors." + + The Clergy, never forgetting Peter's word respecting the + submission all are in duty bound to practice towards Kings as + well as towards all those holding civil power, was always + faithful in obeying the Episcopal directions never ceasing to + deserve the eulogium which the Bishops expressed to the Pope in + their favour. + + "The French-Canadian people, so taught by words and examples, + have given in all our history the admirable spectacle of a + constant fidelity which circumstances more than once rendered + highly meritorious. Such are the true religious and national + traditions of our country. They have in our own days, as in the + past, found the exact expression suggested by the situation. + + "On the other hand, it appears to us a well established fact, + and the most serious minds so proclaim everywhere, that the + British Empire, together with France, martyred Belgium and their + Allies are actually struggling for the defence of the peoples' + Rights and true Liberty. (Card. Begin.) Therefore, very dear + Brethren, it must be acknowledged that Canada, herself + threatened by the possibilities of a war fought with conditions + heretofore unknown, has acted both wisely and loyally in giving, + in a manner as generous as it was spontaneous, all the support + in her power to the mother-country, England. + + "The Catholics, and especially those of French origin, have not + remained behind in this manifestation of true patriotism. If it + was well to make a comparison between the other groups, from the + standpoint of the free and generous participation of all to the + European war, it would be necessary, in the respective figures + obtainable, to take into account several elements which are + perhaps not sufficiently considered. + + "But this is not the real question. It is sufficient to show and + to note for historical authenticity that, with the encouragement + and the blessings of their Pastors, and true to their constant + tradition, the Canadian Catholics, as a whole, have, in this + frightful conflict proved the perfect loyalty which is the sound + expression of true patriotism, and which is blessed by the + Church and by God. + + "Thousands and thousands of our young men, for a large number of + them at the cost of particular and most painful sacrifices, and + in many cases, without being able to give to their race the + benefit of their chivalrous devotion, have gone, oversea, to + fight and die for the cause which was proved to them noble and + urgent. + + "Moreover, all over the country, the courage of our soldiers was + echoed and answered by many active and important works + characterized by charitable solidarity, and this universal + co-operative and sympathetic movement must be supported by the + sentiments of faith and piety. + + "Since we are, at all costs, engaged in a disastrous war, the + causes of which we have not to discuss and judge, but the + consequences of which will necessarily reach our country, and + since our Canadian soldiers are battling under the British flag, + with the clear conscience of an honourable duty loyally and + freely accepted, it is just, it is legitimate that our prayers + do accompany them on the very fields of battles to support their + courage, and that these prayers ascend to Heaven to implore + victory for our armies." + +Evidently the venerable Bishop of Valleyfield is far from believing, +like the publicist whose errors we must all deplore, that in organizing +a powerful army "_to go overseas to fight and die for the noble and +urgent cause so proved to them_," the Canadian Parliament "_were forging +for us a militarism without parallel in any other civilized country, a +depraved and undisciplined soldiery, an armed scoundrelism, without +faith nor law_." + +The blessings of the Head of the Canadian Church and those of the whole +Episcopate have consolated our brave volunteers for the outrages thrust +at them, and have inspired them with the great Christian courage to +forgive their author. The only revenge they have taken against their +accuser has been to defend himself and his own against the barbarous +Germans. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +RASH DENUNCIATION OF PUBLIC MEN. + + +A long experience of public life, whether by daily observation, begun in +my early youth, when the Union of the Provinces was finally discussed, +carried and established, or, subsequently, during many years of active +political life as a journalist and member of the Quebec and Ottawa +representative Houses, has taught me to judge the actions of responsible +men, whether ministerialists or oppositionists, with great fairness and +respectful regard. At all times the government of a large progressive +country peopled by several races, of different religious creeds, is a +difficult problem. It should not be necessary to say that in days of +warlike crisis, of previously unknown proportions, like the present one, +the task becomes almost superhuman. Anyone taking into serious +consideration the very trying ordeal through which, for instance, the +rulers of Great Britain and France have been, and are still passing, +since early in 1914, cannot help being indulgent for those who have the +weighty and often crushing burden of the cares of State. Let so much be +said without in the least contesting the right of free men to their own +opinion about what is best to be done. But it was never more opportune +to remember that the honourable privilege of constitutional criticism +must have for its only superior object the good of the country by +improved methods. + +We have reason to congratulate ourselves that this sound view has widely +prevailed rallying almost as units great nations,--our own one of +them--previously much divided in political thoughts and aspirations, for +the noble and patriotic purpose of winning a disastrous war they were +forced to wage, in spite of their most determined efforts to prevent it. + +Public men, nations rulers, like all others are human and liable to fail +or to be found wanting. Unconscious inefficiency, however desirable to +remove, cannot be fairly classed on the same footing as guilty failures. +The first may, more or less, injure the bright prospects of a country; +the second stains her honour which an exemplary punishment can alone +redeem. + +But it is said with much truth that there are always exceptions to a +general rule. That of the human heart to be fallible in public life, as +well as in other callings, has met with only one solitary exception in +Canada: the saintly Nationalist leader who will never have his equal, +"nature having destroyed the mould when she cast him." + +Considering the outrageous language he thrusted at the Canadians of the +three British races and at our heroic volunteers, it is not to be +supposed that he was so tender-hearted as to spare the public men, not +only of Canada, but of all the Allied Nations. + +When he affirmed that the real and only cause of the war had been, and +was still, the voracious greed of capitalist speculators, especially of +the two leading belligerents, Great Britain and Germany, united together +to profit to the tune of hundreds of millions out of the production of +warship building and materials of all sorts, was he not charging all the +statesmen and leading politicians of all the peoples at war, of having +bowed either consciously to the dictates of traitors to their countries, +or of having been stupidly blind to the guilty manipulations of +financial banditti? + +It would take many pages only to make a summary of the injurious words +he has addressed to the Canadian public men of all shades of +opinion--with the only exception of the Nationalist--on account of the +support they have given, in one way or another, to the Dominion's +participation in the war. He qualified as a _Revolution_ the policy by +which we willingly decided to take part in the wars of the Empire +whenever we came to the conclusion that England was fighting for a just +cause. + +On the 23rd of April, 1917, he wrote as follows:-- + +"_Very often we have shown the evident revolutionary character of the +Canadian intervention in the European conflict._" + +After repeating his absolutely absurd pretention, according to the sound +principles of Constitutional Law, that Canada could have intervened in +the war as a "_nation_" he found fault with all and every one because +"_we are fighting to defend the Empire_." He went on and said with his +natural sweetness of language:-- + +"_The politicians of the two parties and the whole servile and mercenary +press have applied themselves to this revolutionary work.... For a long +time past the party leaders are the tools of British Imperialism and of_ +BRITISH HIGH FINANCE." + +And not satisfied with having thus slashed all the party leaders, all +the chiefs of the State, he turns round, in an access of passionate +indignation, and charges not only all the leading social classes, but +even the Bishops, the worthy leaders of the Church, as the accomplices +of the Imperialist revolution. He thrusts the terrible blow as +follows:-- + +"_But what the war has produced of entirely new and most disconcerting, +is the moral support and complicity which the_ "IMPERIALIST REVOLUTION" +_has found in all the leading social classes_. BISHOPS, _financiers, +publicists and professionals went into the movement with a unity, an +ardour, a zeal which reveal the effective strength of the laborious +propaganda of which Lord Grey has been the most powerful worker prior to +the war_." + +So that there should be no mistake about its true meaning, he favoured +his readers with a very clear explanation indeed of what, in his +opinion, has transformed our meritorious and loyal intervention in the +war into a guilty revolutionary movement. He wrote as follows:-- + +"_But what the Imperialists wanted, and what they have succeeded in +obtaining, was to bind Canada to the fate of England, in the name of the +principle of Imperial solidarity and--as we shall see in a moment--to +the cause of_ 'UNIVERSAL DEMOCRACY'." + +Thus, in the Nationalist leader's opinion, it is a great crime to help +England and her Allies to win a war the loss of which would most likely +have destroyed the British Empire, involving our own ruin in the +downfall of the mighty political edifice to be replaced, in the glorious +shelter it gives to human freedom, by the triumphant German autocratic +rule and its universal domination. It is, to say the least, an +extravagant notion to pretend that the war has afforded the Imperialists +the opportunity--eagerly seized--"_to tie Canada_" hand and foot, "_to +the fate of England_." + +If I am not mistaken--and I am positively sure I am right in so +saying--Canada was bound to the fate of England the very day when--by +Providential decree, in that instance as well as with regard to +everything earthly--she passed under British Sovereignty. The worthy +leaders of our Church so considered--and have since unanimously +considered--at once taking the sound Christian stand that the French +Canadians were, in duty bound, to accept their new political status in +good faith, and to loyally support their new mother country whenever +circumstances would require their devoted help, whilst revering the old +as every child must do, if he is blessed with a good heart, when +separated by unforeseen events from the home of his happy youth. + +I must acknowledge that with some of our French Canadians of the first +class and standing, the word "Democracy" savours with soreness. Well +read in all that pertains to the great epoch of the first French +tremendous Revolution, they abhor, with much reason, the extravagant and +false principles of the BOLSHEVIKISM of those days, which culminated in +the frightful period of the "terrorism" which, for three long years and +more, kept its strong knee on France's throat, her fair soil flooded +with the innocent blood of her children. They are apt to be laid to the +confusion that democratic government is in almost every case, if not +always, synonymous of revolutionary institutions, in as much as it +cannot, they believe and say, be otherwise than destructive of the +principle of "Authority," certainly as essential as that of "Liberty," +both as the necessary fundamental basis of all good governments. + +Knowing this, the Nationalist leader, who has evidently abjured his +liberalism of former days, which he was wont to parade in such +resounding sentences, multiplies his efforts to capture the support of +the few members of our most venerable Clergy whom he supposes labouring +under the aforesaid delusion. He would not lose the chance of trading on +their feelings and sincere conviction, in boldly declaring that his good +friends, the cursed Imperialists, had managed to drag the Dominion +through the mire of the European war by blandishing before the eyes of +the Canadian people, so enamoured of their constitutional liberties, the +supposed dangerous spectre of "_universal democracy_." + +If, in reality, democratic government could not help being either the +"French revolutionary terrorism," of 1792-95,--which even frightened +such a staunch friend of Political Liberty as Burke--or the Russian +criminal bolshevikism of our own trying days, we would be forced, in +dire sadness, to despair of the world's future, as Humanity would be +forever doomed to ebb and flow between the sanguinary "absolutism" +either of "autocratic" or "terrorist" tyrants. + +Happily, we can, in all sincerity, affirm that such is not the case. Is +it not sufficient, as a most reassuring proof, to point at the wonderful +achievements of free institutions, first, under the monarchical +democratic system of Great Britain and her autonomous Dominions; second, +under the republican regime of the United States. + +After many long years of earnest study and serious thinking, I cannot +draw the very depressing conclusion that the two basic principles of +sound government--Authority and Liberty--cannot be brought to work +harmoniously together for the happiness and prosperity of nations, as +far as they can be achieved in this world of sufferings and sacrifices. +Such a conclusion would also be contrary to true Christian teachings, +the Almighty having created man a free being with a responsible and +immortal soul. + +Nations who, forgetful of the obligations of moral laws, indulge in +guilty abuse of their liberties, are, sooner or later, as individuals +doing alike, sure to meet with the due Providential punishment they have +deserved. But, also like individuals, they can redeem themselves in +repenting for their past errors, due to uncontrolled passions, and by +resolutely and "FREELY" returning to the path of their sacred duty. + +The Nationalist leader also deplores, as one of their guilty +achievements, the fact that the "_war had ended all equivocals and +consummated the complete alliance of the two parties_," to favour, as he +asserts, of course, the enterprises of the dreaded Imperialism. + +True to the kind appreciation he has pledged himself to make of the +inspiring dark motives actuating the conduct of public men, he sweetly +added:-- + +"_The truce arrived at in 1914 could not, it is true, resist the thirst +for power. "Blues" and "Reds" have recommenced tearing themselves about +patronage, places, planturous contracts and "boodle." But with regard to +the substantial question itself, and to the Imperialist revolution +brought on and sanctioned by the war, they have remained in accord._" + +It could not strike such a prejudiced mind as that of the Nationalist +leader, that political chieftains, and their respective supporters, +could conscientiously unite to save their country, their Empire and the +world from an impending terrible disaster, and yet freely and +conscientiously differ as to the best means to achieve the sacred object +to the success of which they have pledged, and they continue to make, +their best and most patriotic efforts. + +The public men, and even the private citizens, who, not believing that +he speaks and writes with Divine inspiration, dare to differ from the +Nationalist leader, cannot, in his opinion, do so unless influenced by +unworthy corrupt motives. And he further draws the awful conclusion +"_that it is his duty to note the ever increasing revolutionary +character that the European war, as a whole, is assuming on the side of +the Allies_." + +To support this last and absolutely unfounded charge, he positively +asserts that the joint "_policy of the statesmen, politicians and +journalists, has much less for its object to liberate oppressed nations +like Belgium, Servia_, IRELAND, _Poland and Finland, from a foreign +yoke, than to overthrow in all the countries, allies or enemies, the +monarchical form of government_." + +And then follows a most virulent diatribe by which he points, in +support of his wild conclusion aforesaid, to the Russian revolution, +charging "_the officious and reptile press of the Allied countries to +have joined in spreading the legend that it had been precipitated by +German intrigues at the Court of the Czar, and to have accused the +ill-fated Emperor to have been the spy and the accomplice of the enemies +of his country_." + +At this hour of the day, in the turmoil of flashing events perhaps never +before equalled in suddenness, pregnant with such alarming, or +comforting, prospective consequences, it is much too early to attempt +passing a reliable judgment on the true causes which produced the +Moscovite revolution so soon and so dastardly developed into criminal +"bolshevikism." The question must be left for History to settle when +peace is restored and the sources of truth are wide opened to the +impartial investigations of high class historians. + +However, enough is known to prove that Mr. Bourassa's charge is +altogether unfounded. Anyone conversant with Russian history for the two +last centuries, is aware that German influences and intrigues have +always played a great part in the Capital of that fallen Empire. From +the very beginning of the war, it became evident that they were actively +at work at the Petrograd Court, thwarting the Emperor's efforts and +those of his advisers, military and civil, he could trust, to be true to +the cause he had sworn to defend with France and England. + +The Nationalist leader, I hope, is the only man still to wonder at this, +after all that has been discovered proving what Germany has tried to +bribe the political leaders and the press of the Allies, with too much +success in France, England and the United States. + +Russia has been for too many years the favourite soil where Germany was +sowing her corrupt intrigues, to let any sensible man suppose that she +would kindly withdraw from the preferred field of her infamous +operations, at the very time she was exerting herself with such energy, +and at the cost of so many millions, to extend her vast spy system +almost all over the earth,--Canada included--debauching consciences +right and left. + +Is it unfair to say, for instance, after the event as it developed, that +Roumania was prematurely brought into the war in consequence of the dark +German machinations at Petrograd, with the evident understanding that +the military operations, both on the Teutonic and Moscovite sides, were +to be so conducted as to rush poor Roumania into a most disastrous +defeat, in order to feed the Central Empires with the products of the +fertile Roumanian soil? + +No representative man of any consequence has pretended that the +unfortunate Czar was himself a party to that treason of the Allied +cause. He has likely been the victim of his own weakness in not using +what was left to him of his personal autocratic power to silence the +sympathies of the friends of Germany at his Imperial Court, and even in +his most intimate circle, rather than exhausting it in a supreme, but +doomed, attempt at checking the rising tide of popular aspirations sure, +as always, to overflow to frightful excesses, if unwisely compressed. + +Almost daily witnessing the successive miscarriages of so many of the +Russian military operations, too often by the failure of the +ammunitions, supplied to such a large extent by the Allies, to reach the +Russian soldiers, or by other inexplicable causes, it is not surprising +that the people at large became suspicious of their government which +they soon believed to be under German tutorage. + +The rapid, almost sudden, overthrow of the Russian autocratic Empire can +be accepted as evidence that the movement in favour of a change which +would more efficiently conduct Russia's share of the conflict, was +widespread. The goal it aimed at, once reached, and Russia proclaimed a +Republic, with a regular _de facto_ government under the leadership of +abler men, whose patriotism was proved by their words, but more surely +by their deeds, France, England, Italy and the United States cannot be +reasonably reproached with having unduly opened diplomatic relations +with the new Moscovite authorities. + +Unfortunately, once successful in her intrigues at the Petrograd Court, +soon to fall under the weight of popular exasperation, Germany tried her +hand in a triumphant, but shameful, way with the fiery sanguinary and +treasonable element always to be found operating in the darkest corners +for their own criminal purposes. The calamitous outcome has been +"bolchevikism" betraying their country in the light of day, without +blushing, without hiding their faces in eternal shame, and signing, with +their hands stained with the blood of their own kin, the infamous treaty +of Brest-Litovsk dismembering poor Russia, scattering to the winds her +fond hopes of a grand future at the very dawn of the better days +promised by a free constitution, and plunging her in the throes of +German autocratic domination. + +With regard to the Nationalist leader's rash denunciation of public men, +I have only a few more words to say. My personal recollections going +back to the early sixties of the last century, for several years free +from all party affiliations, unbiassed by any sympathies or prejudices, +I consider it my duty to say that, on the whole, Canadian public life, +as well as British public life, is honourable and entitled to the +respect of public opinion. Out of hundreds and thousands of politicians, +both in the Motherland and in our own Dominion, there may have been +failings. It would be useless, even pernicious, to point at them. The +revulsion of public feeling towards the fallen for cause, and the severe +judgment of misdeeds by the impartial historian, has been the deserved +punishment of the few who have prevaricated. I prefer by far to take my +lofty inspiration from the galaxy of faithful public servants who, from +all parties, and from various standpoints, have given the fruits of +their intelligence, of their learning, of their hard work--and in many +cases--of their private wealth, for the good of their country. In the +course of the last fifty-five years, I have known hundreds of our public +men who lived through, and came out of, a long political life getting +poorer every day without being disheartened and retiring from the public +service to which they were devoted to the last. Need I point, as +examples, to the cases of several men who, departed for a better world, +Parliament, irrespective of all party considerations, united to a man to +vote a yearly allowance of a few hundred dollars to save their surviving +widows and children from actual want and destitution! + +Just as well as the Canadians of the three British races, and the +gallant volunteers of our heroic army, Canadian and British public men +can rest assured that from the high position they occupy in the world's +estimation, they are far above the fanatical aspersions of the +Nationalist leader blinded by the wild suggestions of an inexhaustible +thirst of rash condemnation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +MR. BOURASSA'S DANGEROUS PACIFISM. + + +Two historical truths, undeniable, bright as the shining light of the +finest summer day, which have triumphantly challenged the innumerable +falsehoods to the contrary constantly circulated by Germany, even prior +to the outbreak of the hostilities, are:-- + +First, that all the countries united under the title--the Allies, have +been energetically in favour of MAINTAINING THE PEACE OF THE WORLD, when +it became evident, for all sensible people, that Germany was eagerly +watching her opportunity to strike the blow she had prepared for the +previous forty years on such a gigantic scale. + +Second, that, once engaged in the conflict against their deliberate +will, and in spite of their noble efforts to prevent the war which they +clearly foresaw would be most calamitous, they have always remained the +staunch supporters of the RESTORATION OF PEACE upon the two _sine qua +non_ conditions of JUSTICE and DURABILITY. + +To achieve these two objectives, they have been fighting for now more +than four years, at tremendous cost of men and treasures, and they are +determined to fight until victorious. + +They would all lay down their arms to-morrow, if the results so +important for the future of Humanity could be secured with certainty. + +Like all great causes, PEACE WITH JUSTICE AND DURABILITY has had its +TRUE and its FALSE friends. + +The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who realized from the very +beginning of the frightful struggle that it was perfectly useless to +expect it, if the disastrous Prussian Militarism was to be maintained +and allowed to continue threatening Civilization. + +The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who pledged their honour not to +sheathe the sword they had been forced to draw before Germany would +acknowledge that she had no right to violate solemn treaties, and would +agree to redeem the crime she had committed in invading the neutral +territory of Belgium which she trampled under her ironed heels and +crucified. + +The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who determined to bring Germany to +renounce the abominable principles she has professed, training the mind +of her peoples to believe and proclaim that MIGHT is RIGHT and the only +sound basis of INTERNATIONAL LAW. + +The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who, however anxious they were to +have it restored as soon as possible--fervently praying the Almighty to +that purpose--, knowing what are the principles of International Law +recognized by all truly civilized nations, could not forgive Germany, +UNLESS SHE SINCERELY REPENTED, the barbarism she displayed in her +murderous submarine campaign, and practised in Belgium, Northern France +and in every piece of belligerent territory her armies occupied. + +The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who clearly understood that to meet +the two essential conditions of JUSTICE and DURABILITY, it was +PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE to secure it by a compromise which could not, by +any means, protect the world against further German attempts at +universal military domination. + +The FALSE friends of PEACE were those who said and wrote, in sheer +defiance of truth, that the Allies, more especially England and Russia, +were as much responsible for the war as Germany herself. + +The FALSE friends of PEACE were those who falsely alleged that the +Allies were preventing it by their repeated declarations that their +principal war aim was to destroy, not only the German Empire, but also +the German race, thus wilfully and maliciously pretending that to battle +for the abolition of Teutonic militarism, weighing so heavily on all the +nations, was equal, in guilty knowledge, to fighting for an enemy's race +destruction. + +The FALSE friends of PEACE were those who were ready to sanction, at any +time, a compromise between HEROIC and criminal war aims, which would +leave future generations to the tender mercies of a Sovereign Power +straining every nerve to dominate the world by the foulest means ever +devised. + +The FALSE friends of PEACE were those whose daily effort was to +dishearten their countrymen from the noble and patriotic task they had +bravely undertaken with the strong will to accomplish it at all costs, +knowing, as they did, that it was a question of life or death for human +Civilization. + +"Defeatists," as they are called, to mean the shameless supporters of +PEACE negotiations to be opened by the Allies acknowledging their defeat +and the victory of Germany, there were, and there are, in all the +"Allied" belligerent nations. No one need be too much surprised at the +hideous fact. In all countries, at all times, under the direst +circumstances, when it is most important, in very distressing hours, +that all be of one mind, of one heart, to save the nation's existence, +are to be found heartless, low minded, cowardly beings, ready to betray +their countrymen rather than stand the strain of their due share of +sacrifices, or, which is still far worse, for corrupt motives, to +deliver them over to the enemy. + +"Defeatists" we have had, we have yet, in Canada, in the Province of +Quebec. Most happily, they are few and far between. + +Imbued with the false notions he has so tenaciously ventilated +respecting Canada's participation in the war, it is no wonder that the +Nationalist leader was sure to be found at the head of the small group +of PACIFISTS, at almost any cost, mustered amongst the French +Canadians. A sower of prejudices, he was bound to watch with eagerness +the growing crop of ill-feelings he was fostering. + +Those of us who oppose all, and any, participation by the Dominion in +the wars of the Empire, be they even so just, so honourable, so +necessary, under Mr. Bourassa's deplorable leadership, were naturally +supporters of any kind of "PACIFISM." + +I will not classify the Nationalist leader and his dupes as +"_defeatists_," who were ready to accept peace as the consequence of +defeat. The real "_pacifists_," so far as it is possible to ascertain +their views, unable, consciously or not, to see any difference in the +respective responsibilities of the belligerents in opening the war, +consider that they are equally guilty in not closing it. + +Most happily, such a disordered opinion is shared only by a small +minority. It can be positively affirmed that public opinion, the world +over, outside the Central Empires and their swayed allies, is almost +unanimous that Germany, through her military party and the junkers +element, is responsible for the dire calamity she has brought on +Humanity. The question of the restoration of "PEACE" must be viewed from +this starting point--the only true one. + +The standpoints of the TRUE and the FALSE friends of PEACE being so far +apart, the conclusions they draw are naturally widely different. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +A MOST REPREHENSIBLE ABUSE OF SACRED APPEALS TO THE BELLIGERENT NATIONS. + + +I cannot qualify in milder words the use Mr. Bourassa has made of the +solemn appeals His Holiness the Pope of Rome has, at different dates, +addressed to the belligerent nations in favour of the restoration of +peace. I bear to the Head of the Church I am so happy to belong such a +profound respect and devotion that I will scrupulously abstain from any +comment of the Sovereign Pontiff's writings and addresses. I have read +them several times over with the greatest attention and veneration, so +sure I was that, emanating from the highest spiritual Authority in the +world, they were exclusively inspired by the ardent desire to promote a +recurrence to good-will amongst men, in obedience to the Divine precept. + +Having to reproach the Nationalist leader with having abused of the +weighty words of His Holiness, to support his own misconceptions of duty +as a loyal British subject and a Christian publicist, I will refrain +with great care from writing a sentence which might be construed as the +shadow of an attempt to do the same. + +I will take from Mr. Bourassa's own comments of the Sovereign Pontiff's +appeals, the two conclusions upon which he lays great stress, and which +clearly summarize the convictions of His Holiness Pope Benedict XV. + +Praying with all the powers of His heart and soul for the orderly future +of the world, the Sovereign Pontiff implored, in the most touching +terms, the belligerent nations to agree to a "JUST AND DURABLE PEACE." + +As it was certain, even if He had not said so with such pathetic +expressions, His Holiness drew the saddest possible picture of the +untold misfortunes war, carried on in such vast proportions, was +inflicting upon the peoples waging the struggle. + +I will only quote the few following words from the first letter of His +Holiness, dated July 28, 1915:-- + +"_It cannot be said that the immense conflict cannot be terminated +without armed violence._" + +No one can take exception to this truism, authoritatively expressed +under circumstances greatly adding to its importance and to its solemn +announcement. It is just as true to-day as it was,--and has been ever +since,--when the whole world was passing through the crucial ordeal of +the days during which England and France were almost imploring Germany +not to plunge the earth into the horrors of the war she was determined +to bring on. + +The questions at stake could then have been easily settled without +"ARMED VIOLENCE," if the Imperial Government of Berlin had listened to +the pressing demand of Great Britain in favour of the maintenance of +peace. + +It is scarcely believable that the Nationalist leader has abused of +those weighty words to the point of attempting to persuade the +French-Canadians that the Allies, even more than the Rulers of the +Central Empires, have refused to listen to the prayers of the Pope. In +January last, he published a new pamphlet, entitled "THE POPE, ARBITER +OF PEACE," in which he reproduced from "Le Devoir" his numerous +articles, from August 1914, on the intervention of the Sovereign Pontiff +in favour of the cessation of the hostilities, and on the current events +of the times. + +The oft-repeated diatribes of Mr. Bourassa against England were bound to +be once more edited in the above pamphlet. Their author, in a true +fatherly way, not willing to allow them to die under the contempt they +deserve, would not lose the chance to have them to survive in tackling +them with his comments on His Holiness' letters. + +This pamphlet, the worthy sequel of its predecessors which, for the good +of Mr. Bourassa's compatriots, should never have seen the light of day, +would call for many more refutable quotations than I can undertake to +make in this work. A few will suffice to show the deplorable purport of +the whole book. + +In his letter dated, July 28, 1915, the Pope wrote:-- + +"_In presence of Divine Providence, we conjure the belligerent nations, +to henceforth put an end to the horrible carnage which, for a year, +dishonours Europe._" + +Positively informed about the horrible crimes committed by command of +the German military authorities in Belgium, and Northern France, and by +the ferocious Turks in Armenia, well might His Holiness say that Europe +was being dishonoured by such barbarous deeds. If the military +operations had been conducted by the nations of the Alliance in +conformity with the principles of International Law, most likely the +Pope would not have used the same language. For, however much to be +regretted are the sufferings inseparable from a military conflict +carried on with the utmost regards for the fair claims of human feelings +and justice, it could not have been pretended that such a war was a +dishonour for the belligerents on both sides, especially when fighting +with an equally sincere conviction that they are defending a just cause. + +Referring to recent history, none asserted, for instance, that the +Russo-Japanese war was a dishonour to Europe and Asia. It was fought out +honourably on both sides. Peace was restored without leaving bitter and +burning recollections in the minds of either peoples. And when Germany +dishonoured herself and stained Humanity with blushing shame, both +Russia and Japan joined together to avenge Civilization. + +Let us now see how Mr. Bourassa distorted the words of the Pope so as to +use them for his own purpose of misrepresenting the true stand of the +Allies, and more especially of England. + +The first sentence of his article dated, August 3, 1915, to be found at +page 11 of the pamphlet, under the title: "_The Pope's Appeal_," reads +thus:-- + +"_The anniversary of the hurling of the sanguinary fury which makes of +Europe the shame of Humanity has inspired the Rulers of peoples with +resounding words._" + +And after eulogizing the Pope's intervention, he adds:--"_that men will +not hear his voice, drunk as they are with pride, revenge and blood_." + +This may be cunningly worded, but it should deceive nobody. + +One cannot help being indignant at the contemptible attempt to place the +Allies on the same footing as the Central Empires with regard to the +responsibility _in hurling the sanguinary fury in 1914_. + +The plain, incontrovertible, truth is that the outbreak of the war was a +shame, not for Humanity, the victim of Teutonic treachery, but for +Germany herself; whilst the sacred union of Belgium, France, England and +their allies to resist the barbarous onslaught hurled at them all, was +an honour for Civilization and the promise of an heroic redemption. + +At page 12 of the pamphlet, he closes the first paragraph with the +following words:--"_since the fatal days when peoples supposed to be +Christian hurled themselves at one another in a foolish rage of +destruction, of revenge and hatred_." In French, it reads +thus:--"_depuis le jour fatal ou les peuples soi-disant chrétiens se +sont rués les uns contre les autres, dans une rage folle de destruction, +de vengeance et de haine_." + +Read as a whole, with the full meaning they were intended to convey, +those words constitute a daring falsehood. Historical events of the +highest importance cannot be construed at will. There are facts so +positively true, and known to be such, that they should preclude any +possibility of deceit. + +It is absolutely false that, _on a fatal day_ of mid-summer, 1914, +_peoples hurled themselves at one another_. What really took place, in +the glaring light of day, was that Germany, fully prepared for the fray, +_hurled_ herself at weak Belgium, throwing to the waste basket the +scraps of the solemn treaties by which she was in honour bound to +respect Belgian neutrality. She had first opened the disastrous game by +_hurling_ her vassal, Austria, at weak Servia. + +Rushing her innumerable victorious armies over Belgian trodden soil, she +_hurled_ herself at France with the ultimate design to _hurl_ herself at +England. + +That in so doing, Germany was _raging_ with a _foolish_ thirst of +_destruction, of revenge and hatred_, is certainly true. But Mr. +Bourassa's guilt is in his assertion that the victims of Germany's +_sanguinary fury_ were actuated by the same criminal motives in +heroically defending their homes, their wives, their children, their +all, against the barbarians once more bursting out of Central Europe, +this time bent on overthrowing human freedom. + +Is the respectable citizen who bravely defends himself against the +ruffian who _hurls_ himself at his throat, to be compared with his +murderous assailant? + +But England was not alone in _hurling_ herself at Germany, as Mr. +Bourassa so cordially says. Without a word, even a sign, by the only +momentum of her _furious outburst of foolish destruction_, she was +followed by the whole of her Empire. How much we, Canadians, were, for +instance, deluded, the Nationalist leader is kind enough to tell us in +his ever sweet language. + +When the Parliament of Ottawa unanimously decided that it was the duty +of the British Dominion of Canada to participate in the war; when +Canadian public opinion throughout the length and breadth of the land, +almost unanimously approved of this loyal and patriotic decision, we, +poor unfortunate Canadians, thought that we were heartily and nobly +joining with the mother-country to avenge "OUTRAGED JUSTICE," to rush to +the rescue of violated Belgium, of France, once more threatened with +agony under the brutal Teutonic ironed heels, of the whole world--Mr. +Bourassa's commanding personality included--menaced with the HUNS' +DOMINATION. + +How sadly mistaken we were, Mr. Bourassa tells us. According to this +infallible judge of the righteousness or criminality of historical +events, we were labouring under a paroxysm of passion--_of a rage of +foolish destruction, of vengeance and hatred_. + +Once overpowered by this vituperative mood of calumnious accusations, +the Nationalist leader slashes England, as follows,--page 18--:-- + +"_England has violently destroyed more national rights than all the +other European countries united together. By force or deceit, she has +swallowed up a fourth of the earthly globe; by conquest, and more +especially by corruption and the purchase of consciences, she has +subjugated more peoples than there were, in the whole human history, +ever brought under the same sceptre._" + +Thus, in Mr. Bourassa's impartial estimation, the depredations and +slaughters of the hordes commanded by Attila, the savagery of the Turks +of old and present days, the crimes of Germany in this great war, are +only insignificant trifles compared with the horrors of British history. +Shame on such outrageous misrepresentation of historical truth. + +Mr. Bourassa accuses England to have _by force or deceit swallowed up a +fourth of the earthly globe_. Considering the happy and flourishing +condition of the vast British Empire, the Nationalist leader, as every +one else, must admit that England is endowed with great digestive +powers, as she does not show the least sign that she suffers from +national dyspepsia from having swallowed up a fourth of the universe. +Her national digestion is evidently sound and healthy, for instead of +weakening and decaying, she grows every day in strength, in stature, in +freedom, in prestige, and, above all, in WISDOM. + +The Nationalist leader has thought proper to express his formal hatred +of militarism. One would naturally suppose that, in so doing, he should +have pointed at the worst kind of militarism ever devised--the German +type of our own days. Let no one be mistaken about it. At page 58 of his +pamphlet, Mr. Bourassa bursts out as follows in the top paragraph:-- + +"_As a matter of fact, of all kinds of militarism, of all the +instruments of brutal domination, the naval supremacy of England is the +most redoubtable, the most execrable for the whole world; for it rules +over all the continents, hindering the free relations of all the +peoples._" + +Was I really deluded when I felt sure that in peaceful times, British +naval supremacy on the seas was not interfering in the least with the +freest commercial intercourse of all the nations, whose mercantile ships +can, by British laws, enter freely into all the ports of Great Britain? +Mr. Bourassa's assertion to the contrary, I shall not, by the least +shadow, alter my opinion which is positively sound. + +From the above last quotation, I have the right to infer that Mr. +Bourassa is very sorry that, in war times like those we have seen since +July 1914, British naval supremacy is sufficiently paramount to protect +the United Kingdom from starvation, to keep the coasts of France opened +to the mercantile ships of the Allies and of all the neutral nations, to +"rule the waves" against both the German military and mercantile fleets, +chased away from the oceans by the British guns thundering at the +Teutonic pirates on land and sea. If he is, he can be sure that he is +alone to cry and weep at a fact which rejoices all the true and loyal +friends of freedom and justice. + +Mr. Bourassa cherishes a wish that will certainly not be granted. He +will not be happy unless England agrees to give up her naval supremacy +to please Germany. Let him rest quietly on his two ears; the dawn of +such a calamitous day is yet very far distant. + +At the end of page 12, Mr. Bourassa asserts that _the Germans proclaim +their_ RIGHT _to "Germanize" Europe and the world, and that the English +imperiously affirm their_ RIGHT _to maintain their Imperial power over +the seas and to oppose "Anglo-Saxonism" to "pan-Germanism."_-- + +I have already refuted the Nationalist leader's pretention, and informed +him that England, no more than any other country, has no "Sovereign +rights" on the seas outside the coastal limits as prescribed by +International Law. He appears totally unable to understand the simple +truth that Great Britain's sea supremacy is nothing more nor less than +the superiority of her naval strength created, at an immense cost, out +of sheer necessity, to protect the United Kingdom from the domination of +a great continental power. + +Does he not know that, in the days prior to England's creation of her +mighty fleet, she has been easily conquered by invaders? Is he aware of +the great British historical fact called the Norman Conquest? Has he +never heard that before starting on his triumphant march across Europe, +culminating at Austerlitz, the great Napoleon had planned an invasion of +England, with every prospects of success, if he had not been deterred +from carrying it out by the continental coalition which, calling into +play the resources of his mighty genius, he so victoriously crushed and +dispersed? Has he never read anything about panic stricken England until +she was relieved from the dangers of the projected invasion? + +Does he not realize that, unless they were madmen, no British ministers +will ever consent to renounce their "UNDOUBTED RIGHT" to be ever ready +for any emergency, to save their country from enslavement by would-be +dashing invaders? It is the height of political nonsense to suppose that +responsible public men ever could be so blind, or so recreant to their +most sacred duty, as to follow the wild course recommended by +extravagantly prejudiced "Nationalists." + +The man who would throw away his weapons of defense would have nothing +else to do but to kneel down and implore the tender mercy of his +criminal aggressor. Truly loyal subjects of the Empire cannot clamour to +bring England down to such an humiliating position. They know too well +that if ever matters came to so disastrous a pass, Great Britain could +easily be starved into irremediable submission with the consequent and +immediate destruction of the whole fabric of the Empire. A Nationalist, +yawning for such an end, may suggest the best way to reach it. But no +loyal man, sincerely wishing the maintenance of the great British +Commonwealth, will ever do so. + +No wonder that he who came out openly in favour of Imperial Federation +for the express purpose of ruining the Empire, endeavours to achieve his +most cherished object in first destroying British naval supremacy on the +seas. Imperial Federation would then no longer be necessary for the +consummation of his longing wishes. + +Freedom of the seas and British naval supremacy are not antagonistic by +any means, as I have previously well explained. It is an unanswerable +proposition--a truism--to say that supremacy on the ocean will always +exist, held by one nation or another. The Power commanding the superior +naval fleet will for ever be supreme on the seas. It is mere common +sense to say so. Mr. Bourassa would vainly work his wind-mill for +centuries without changing this eternal rule of sound sense. + +If, by whichever cause, England was to lose her sea supremacy, it would +at once, as a matter of course, pass on to the next superior naval +Power. + +In a subsequent chapter on the after-the-war military problem, I shall +explain the way or ways, by which, in my opinion, the question of the +freedom of the seas, so much misunderstood, could be settled to the +satisfaction of all concerned. + +With regard to the supposed conflict of "anglo-saxonism" and +"pan-germanism" I will merely say that it is only another sample of Mr. +Bourassa's wily dreams. + +As I have already said, this last pamphlet of the Nationalist leader is, +for a large part of it, but the repetition of his diatribes so often +_hurled_ at England. I will close this chapter by quoting from page 57, +the following paragraph which summarizes, in a striking way, the charges +Mr. Bourassa is so fond to _hurl_ at the mother-country. It reads +thus:-- + +"_What has allowed England to bring Portugal into vassalage? to dominate +Spain and keep Gibraltar, Spanish land? to deprive Greece of the Ionians +and Cyprus Islands? to steal Malta? to foment Revolution in the Kingdom +of Naples and the Papal States? to run, during thirty years, the foreign +policy of Italy and to throw her in Austria's execrated arms? to take +possession of Suez and to make her own thing of it? to chase France from +the Upper Nile, and subsequently from the whole of Egypt, to intervene +in the Berlin treaty to deprive Russia of the profits of her victory, +to galvanize dying Turkey, to delay for thirty years the revival of the +Balkan States and to make of Germany the main spring of continental +Europe? In a word, what has permitted England to rule the roost in +Europe and to accumulate the frightful storm let loose in 1914? Who? +What? if it is not the "naval domination" of England ever since the +destruction of the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar._" + +It would be most difficult to condense more erroneous historical +appreciations and political absurdities in so few lines. + +Many will be quite surprised to learn, from Mr. Bourassa's resounding +trumpet, that England had been for many years gathering the storm which +broke out in 1914. So far all fairminded men were convinced that this +rascally work had been done by Germany, in spite of England's +exhortations to reduce military armaments. + +In all sincerity, I am unable to understand how Mr. Bourassa can expect +to successfully give the lie to such incontrovertible truths as the +guilt of Germany in preparing the war she finally brought on more than +four years ago, and as the unceasing determination of England to +maintain peace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +A CASE FOR TRUE STATESMANSHIP. + + +Whatever the TRUE and the FALSE friends of PEACE may hope and say, it is +perfectly useless to close our eyes to the glaring fact that its +restoration can only be the result of military effort combined with the +highest practical statesmanship. After all what has happened, and the +oft-repeated declaration of the Rulers of the belligerent nations, it +would be a complete loss of a very valuable time to indulge any longer +in the expression of views all acknowledge in principle, but which no +one, however well disposed he may be, is actually able to traduce in +practical form. + +When writing my French book, in the fall of 1916, reviewing the +situation as it had so far developed, I said:-- + + "All are most anxious for peace. However it is infinitely better + to look at matters such as they are. It is evident that the + military situation does not offer the least hope that the war + can be immediately brought to an end. Successes have been + achieved on both sides. But nothing decisive has yet happened. + The armies are facing one another in defiant attitude. The + belligerent nations, on both sides, have yet, and for a long + time, great resources in man-power and money." + + "If Germany, which should first give up the fight in + acknowledging her crime, is obdurate to final exhaustion, how + can it be possibly expected that the Allies who were forced to + fight, will submit to the humiliation and shame of soliciting + from their cruel enemy a peace the conditions of which, they + know, would be utterly unacceptable. Consequently they must with + an indomitable courage and an invincible perseverance go on + struggling to solve, for a long time, the redoubtable problem to + which they are pledged, in honour bound, to give the only + settlement which can reassure the world." + +I am still and absolutely of the same opinion. The present military +situation has certainly much improved in favour of the Allies since +1916. However, looking at the question, first, from the standpoint of +the developing military operations, there is no actual, and there will +not be for many months yet--more or less--practical possibility of a +satisfactory peace settlement. + +Secondly, looking at the question from the standpoint of true +statesmanship, it is very easy to draw the inexorable conclusion that, +again, there is not actually the least chance of an immediate +restoration of peace. + +Statesmen, responsible, not only for the future of their respective +countries, but, actually, for that of the whole world, are not to be +supposed liable to be carried away by a hasty desire to put an end to +the war and to their own arduous task in carrying it to the only +possible solution:--A JUST AND DURABLE PEACE. + +A broad and certain fact, staring every one, is that the Berlin +Government will not accept the only settlement to which the Allies can +possibly agree as long as her armies occupy French and Belgian +territories. If Mr. Bourassa and his "pacifists" friends--or dupes--have +really entertained a faint hope to the contrary, they were utterly +mistaken. + +Present military events, however proportionately enlarged by the +increased resources, in man-power and money, of the belligerents, are +not without many appropriate precedents. History is always repeating +itself. Great Powers having risked their all in a drawn battle, do not +give in as long as they can stand the strain, considering the importance +of the interests they have at stake. + +For the same reason above stated, but reversed, the Allies will not +negotiate for peace before they have thrown the German armies out of +French and Belgian soil, and repulsed them over Teutonic territory. I do +not mean to say that peace must necessarily be proclaimed either from +Berlin or from Paris. But it will only be signed as the inevitable +result of a final triumphant march on the way either to Berlin or to +Paris. There is no possible escape from the alternative. In such +matters, there is no halfway station. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +AFTER-THE-WAR MILITARY PROBLEM. + + +Two of the most important propositions of His Holiness the Pope more +especially deserve earnest consideration. They are indeed supported by +the Allies who are purposely fighting for their adoption. + +In his note of the first of August, 1917, addressed to the Rulers of the +belligerent nations, the Pope says in part:-- + +"AT FIRST, THE FUNDAMENTAL POINT MUST BE TO SUBSTITUTE THE MORAL FORCE +OF RIGHT TO THE MATERIAL FORCE OF ARMS." + +No truer proposition could be enounced. If Germany had put this +principle into practice, she never would have violated Belgian +territory. + +When England protested against the proposed invasion of Belgium, she did +so in obedience to the sacred principle enunciated by the Sovereign +Pontiff. She strongly insisted to the last minute that _the moral force_ +of solemn treaties should prevail upon _the material force of arms_. + +In a letter dated October 7, 1917, His Eminence Cardinal Gasparri, +Secretary of State to His Holiness, addressing the Archbishop of Lens, +wrote as follows respecting conscription:-- + + "The Holy See, in his Appeal of the first of August, did not + consider, out of deference for the leaders of the belligerent + peoples, that he should mention it, preferring to leave to + themselves the care of determining it, but for him, the only + practical system and, moreover, easy to apply with some good + will on both sides, would be the following: to suppress, with + one accord between civilized nations, military obligatory + service; to constitute an arbitration tribunal, as already said + in the Pontifical Appeal, to settle international questions; + finally, to prevent infractions, to establish universal + "boycottage" against any nation attempting to reestablish + military obligatory service, on refusing either to lay an + international question before the arbitration tribunal, or to + abide by its decision." + +Cardinal Gasparri then points to the ante-war British and American +systems of military "voluntarism", in the following terms:-- + + "As a matter of fact, omitting other considerations, the recent + example of England and America testifies in favour of the + adoption of this system. England and America had, in effect, + voluntary service, and, to take an efficient part in the present + war, they were obliged to adopt conscription. It proves that + voluntary service well supplies the necessary contingent to + maintain public order (and is public order not maintained in + England and America just as well, if not better, than in the + other nations?) but it does not supply the enormous armies + required for modern warfare. Consequently in suppressing, with + one accord between civilized nations, obligatory service to + replace it by voluntary service, disarmament with all the happy + consequences above indicated would be automatically obtained + without any perturbation of public order." + + "For the last century, conscription has been the true cause of + calamities which have afflicted society: to reach a simultaneous + and reciprocal suppression will be the true remedy. In fact, + once suppressed, conscription could be reestablished only by a + law; and for such a law, even with the present constitution of + the Central Empires, Parliamentary approbation would be required + (which approbation would be most improbable for many reasons and + above all on account of the sad experience of the present war); + in this way, what is so much desired, for the maintenance of + agreements, would be obtained: the peoples' guarantee. If, on the + other hand, the right to make peace or war was given to the + people by way of =referendum=, or at least to Parliament, peace + between nations would be assured, as much at least as it is + possible in this world." + +It should be very gratifying indeed to all the loyal subjects of the +British Empire to ascertain, from the declarations of Cardinal Gasparri, +that the Pope is in so complete accord with England on this the most +important question to be settled by the future peace treaty. + +As proved in one of the first chapters of this work, the Government of +Great Britain, supported in this course by almost the unanimous opinion +of the peoples of the United Kingdom, was the first to suggest the +holding of the Hague conferences to consider the best means to adopt to +favour the world with the blessings of permanent peace. Their own view, +which they forcibly expressed, was that the surest way to reach that +much desired result was to limit the military armaments, both on land +and sea. For more than twenty years previous to the war, they pressed, +and even implored, for the adoption of their program. + +I have also proved how obdurate Germany was in resisting England's +propositions, and her successful intrigues to thwart Great Britain's +efforts to have them adopted and put into practice. + +England's policy has not changed. On the contrary, it is more than ever +favourable to the limitation, and even to the complete abolition, of +armaments, if one or the other can be achieved. It is the principal war +aim of Great Britain, only coming next after her determination to +avenge Belgium. + +The future peace of the world could no doubt be well guaranteed by a +large measure of disarmament. But it would certainly be much more so, if +complete abolition could be obtained by an international agreement +binding on all nations, with, of course, the allowance of the necessary +forces required for the maintenance of interior public order. + +The whole world can safely depend on the strenuous support of England +for either the limitation or the abolition of armaments whenever the +question is seriously taken up for consideration. + +Evidently the problem will be difficult to solve. However, it should not +be beyond the resources of statesmanship which, assuredly, ought to rise +superior to all prejudiced aspirations after the terrible ordeal +Humanity will have experienced during the present war. + +The maintenance of internal public order, and permanent preparedness for +foreign wars, are two very different questions to examine. The first can +safely be left to the care of every nation sure to attend to it if +willing to maintain her authority. The second has a much wider scope and +will tax the ability of statesmanship to the utmost limit. + +Will the great civilized nations decide, when the war is over, to +completely abolish conscription to return to voluntary military service +within a very limited organization, thus doing away by a bold and +single stroke with a system which, for more than a hundred years, has +been the curse of continental Europe? + +Or will they, at least as an initial attempt, come to the conclusion to +only limit armaments, maintaining compulsory service for the reduced +strength of the armies? + +If armaments are either abolished, or merely reduced, will they be so on +sea as well as on land? I would answer at once:--of course, they should. + +Looking at the question from the British stand-point--and I can also say +from that of the United States--it should be easily solved. + +Public opinion in Great Britain and all over the British Empire, as well +as in the United States, has always been against conscription in peace +times, until the present war. + +Not exactly foreseeing the full extent of the effort she would be called +upon to make, England entered into the conflict determined to meet the +requirements of her military situation out of the resources of voluntary +enlistment. Canada, joining in the struggle, did the same. Both have +done wonderfully well during the three first years of the prolonged war. + +I can, without the slightest hesitation, positively assert that public +opinion, in the whole British Empire, and, not only in the United +States, but in the whole of the two American continents, is, as a matter +of principle, as much hostile to compulsory military service as it was +before the present war, and would exult at its complete abolition as one +of the happiest results of the gigantic contest still going on. + +It is to be deplored, but still it is a fact, that great questions of +public interest too often cannot be settled solely in conformity with +the principles they imply. + +If Great Britain, if the United States, if Canada, could consider the +question of conscription exclusively from their own stand-point, they +would most surely decide at once, and with great enthusiasm, to abolish +the obligatory military service they have adopted only as a last resort +under the stress of imperious necessity. + +Moreover, I have no hesitation to express my own opinion that whatever +will be the military system of continental Europe after the war, the +British Empire and the United States will certainly not be cursed with +permanent conscription. They are both so happily situated that, in peace +times, they cannot be called upon to go very extensively into the costly +preparedness which the European continental nations will have again to +submit themselves to, if they are not wise enough to put an end forever +to the barbarous militarism they have too long endured for fear of +Teutonic domination. + +Under the worst European situation, England, with a territorial army of +a million of men ready to be called to the Colours, or actually flying +them, backed by her mighty fleet maintained to its highest state of +efficiency, could always face any continental enemy. And such an army of +a ready million of well trained officers and men, voluntary service +would easily produce. + +If future conditions would require it, Canada herself could do her share +to prepare for any emergency by reverting to voluntary enlistment, but +in improving the service so as to produce more immediate efficiency. + +Very apparently, the United States will come out of the present conflict +with flying Colours and will dispense with compulsory service under any +circumstances in the peace days to follow. + +What then will the continental powers do? Blessed they will be, if they +make up their mind to do away, once for all, with a system which has +crushed the peoples so unmercifully. + +To speak in all frankness, I believe it would be almost vain, however +much desirable it is, to indulge in fond hopes of the complete abolition +of militarism on the European continent. The canker is too deep in the +flesh and blood of nations to be extirpated as if by magic. Such a +reversal of conditions grown to extravagant proportions, during more +than a century, will not likely be accomplished at the first stroke. Let +us all hope that, at least, a good start will be made by a large +limitation of armaments which may, with time, lead to the final +achievement for which the whole world would be forever grateful to the +Almighty. I have positively stated that extravagant militarism should +be discontinued on sea as well as on land. Such has been the policy of +England for many years past. I have proved it by the diplomatic +correspondence between Great Britain and Germany, and the solemn +declarations of all the leading British statesmen for the last quarter +of a century. How persistingly England has implored Germany to agree +with her in stopping that ruinous race in the building of war vessels, +we have seen. + +So, the assent, nay more, the determination of England to adhere to her +old and noble policy, is a foregone conclusion. + +The closing sentence of the last quoted paragraph of Cardinal Gasparri's +letter expresses the opinion that "_the right to make peace or war +should be given to the people by way of referendum, or at least to +Parliament_." + +The system preconized by the Eminent Cardinal has been in existence in +England for a number of years; ever since the day when complete +ministerial responsibility was adopted as the fundamental principle of +the British constitution. That system was carried to the letter by Great +Britain with regard to her intervention in the present war. + +The right to declare war and to make peace is one of the most important +prerogatives of the British Crown. This prerogative of the Crown, like +all the others, is held in trust by the Sovereign for the benefit of +the people and exercised by Him ONLY UPON THE ADVICE AND RESPONSIBILITY +OF HIS MINISTERS. + +In conformity with this great British constitutional principle, what +happened in London, in August, 1914? The then Prime Minister, Mr. +Asquith, in his own name and in those of his colleagues, advised His +Majesty King George V. to declare war against Germany because she had +invaded Belgian territory in violation of the treaties by which these +two countries were, in honour bound, to protect Belgium's neutrality. +They were constitutionally responsible to the Imperial Parliament and to +the people of the United Kingdom for their advice to their Sovereign. + +In his admirable statement to the British House of Commons, Sir Edward +Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said:-- + +"_I have assured the House--and the Prime Minister has assured the House +more than once--that if any crisis such as this arose, we should come +before the House of Commons and be able to say to the House that it was +free to decide what the British attitude should be, that we would have +no secret engagement which we should spring upon the House, and tell the +House that, because we had entered into that engagement, there was an +obligation of honour upon the country._" + +The British House of Commons, had they considered it to be their duty, +had the right to disapprove the foreign policy of the Cabinet and to +censure the ministers for the advice they had given, or had decided to +give, to the Sovereign. On the other hand, the House of Commons had the +right to approve the stand taken by the Government. They did so +unanimously, and were most admirably supported by the people. + +I must say that I consider it would be very difficult, if not absolutely +impracticable, to have questions of war or peace dealt with by way of +"_Referendum_." Crises suddenly created lead almost instantly to +declarations of war. But this outcome could hardly be so rapidly +produced that Parliament could not be called to deal with the emergency. + +How could France have been able to oppose the crushing German invasion, +in 1914, if her Government and her representative Houses had been +obliged to wait for the result of a "_Referendum_" whether she would +fight or kneel down? + +But the whole world--outside the Central Empires and their +Allies--witnessed with unbounded delight the spontaneous and unanimous +decision of the heroic French nation to fight to the last. She threw +herself with the most admirable courage against the invading waves of +Teutonic barbarism, and succeeded by the great and glorious Marne +victory in forcing them to ebb, thus giving England and the other Allies +the time necessary to organize and train their armies which, by their +united efforts will save Civilization from destruction and the world +from the threatened German domination. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE INTERVENTION OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WAR. + + +The hostilities, once opened as the direct consequence of Germany's +obduracy, many of the most influential leaders of public opinion in the +United States foresaw that the conflict taking such a wide range, the +great American Republic was most likely to be, sooner or later, involved +in the European struggle. They were of two classes. Those out of office, +holding for the time no official position, were, of course, not bound to +the same careful discretion in judging the daily developments of the +military operations, and their far reaching consequences, as those who +were at the helm of State. + +In appreciating the course followed by the United States since the war +commenced, it must never be forgotten that if an autocratic Empire, +trampled upon by a domineering military party, can be thrown in a minute +into a great conflict, a Republic like that of our powerful neighbours +cannot be dragooned into any hasty action. In a free country, under a +responsible government, public opinion is the basis of the success of +any important official decision. + +The political men and the numerous publicists who incessantly called the +attention of our neighbours to what was going on in Europe and on the +seas, have rendered a great service in moulding public opinion for the +grand duty the Republic would eventually be obliged to accomplish. + +Having ourselves decided to participate in the war at once after its +outbreak, and deeply engaged in the task, we, Canadians, felt somewhat +uneasy about the apparent determination of our neighbours to stand +aside, and let the European Powers settle the ugly question. As a rule, +we were all wishing to see the United States joining with the Allies in +the fray. + +Once again, we had some black sheep with us. Whilst all the loyal +Canadians were anxiously waiting for the day when they would applaud the +American Republic's declaration of war against Germany, our Nationalists +were getting more nervous at the increasing signs of the growth of +public opinion amongst our neighbours against the criminal German cause +and the crimes by which the Teutons were supporting it. Their leader, +Mr. Bourassa, was doing his best to persuade the Americans that they had +much better to remain out of the struggle. He expected he would succeed, +as he had done in the Province of Quebec, in influencing, by his +erroneous theories, many of the French Canadian element in the United +States. + +The wish being always father to the thought, Mr. Bourassa easily came to +the conclusion that Mr. Wilson, the president of the United States, was +decidedly opposed to any intervention of the Republic in the war, and +would prevent it at all hazards. How prodigal he was of his eulogiums, +of his advices, to the American "pacifists," with the President as their +leader, to know one has only to read his newspaper "_Le Devoir_." + +How disappointed, how crest-fallen, he was when he discovered how much +mistaken he had been! + +When Mr. Wilson, who had long been waiting for the right hour to strike +the blow at the Teutonic autocratic attempt at domination, rising +grandly to the rank of a great statesman, supported by the splendid +strength of the public opinion he had wisely and skilfully rallied in +favour of the decision he had taken, was a sad day for our Nationalists +and their heart-broken leader. Blind, prejudiced, as they were, meekly +pandering to pan-Germanism which they considered as the best antidote to +the Anglo-Saxonism they abhor, they could not understand that the +Lusitania horror, the slaughtering of hundreds of American citizens in +violation of all the principles of International Law, the crimes of the +Teutonic submarine campaign more than justified the intervention of the +United States in the war. + +What our neighbours have done since they have joined with the Allies, +what they are doing and promise to do, is worthy of all admiration. Like +the British Empire, like France, the United States have given the +inspiring example of a most enlightened patriotism, of a splendid unity +of purpose, of a boundless confidence in the triumph of the cause of +Justice and Right. + +Such a grand spectacle of true national unity offered a striking +contrast with the sad exhibition of the narrow Nationalism Canada has +had to endure without, however, hindering to any appreciable extent our +loyal and patriotic effort to help winning the war. + +Mr. Bourassa, who had been out of his natural vituperative tune in +complimenting Mr. Wilson on his supposed peace proclivities, was sure to +turn his guns against the President of the Republic the moment he boldly +and energetically took his stand against German barbarism as exhibited +since the beginning of the war. Mr. Wilson had especially protested +against such outrages as were perpetrated on the seas by Teutonic +orders. He had repeatedly warned the Berlin Government what the +inevitable consequences of such proceedings would be, and going to the +full length of what friendly relations between two Sovereign States +could permit, had demanded that an end be put to a kind of warfare most +formally condemned by International Law, contrary to all justice, to all +human notions of civilization. + +When the cup of German iniquities overflowed with new crimes, American +reprobation was also raised to the high water mark. Indignation was at +the height of its exasperation. Public opinion had rapidly rallied and +ripened at the horrible sight of so many American citizens, women and +children, murdered in mid-ocean, their dead bodies floating over the +waves, and their souls from above crying for vengeance. + +Then the President, Congress, statesmen, politicians, publicists, loyal +Americans numbering almost a hundred million, all of one mind, of one +heart, pledged their national honour to avenge the foul deeds of +Teutonic barbarity, and to do their mighty share in rescuing Freedom and +Civilization from the threatening sanguinary cataclysm which was cruelly +saddening our times and darkening the prospects of our children. + +How powerfully, how grandly, how admirably they have kept their word, +all know. The laws necessary to prosecute the war with the utmost vigour +were unanimously passed by Congress. The organization of the man-power +of our neighbours has been made on a grand scale. The calls to the +financial resources of the Republic have been patriotically answered by +the people who poured out billions and billions of their hard earned and +prudently saved money to support the national cause so closely +identified with that of the Allies. Besides spending innumerable +millions for their own gigantic military effort, the United States are +lending billions of dollars to their associates in the great struggle to +curb down German autocratic criminal ambition. + +The universe, as a whole, gratefully applauded the magnificent effort +of the leading nation of the New-World in defending the old continents +of Europe, Asia and Africa against the new invasion of the Huns. + +The only shadow to this ennobling picture is that which our +Nationalists, from this side of the boundary line, try to breathe on it, +expecting that their treacherous whisper will find some echo amongst the +French Canadian and the German elements of the Republic. + +The following lines are a sample of the kind words Mr. Bourassa has +addressed to Mr. Wilson--the warrior--not the pacifist. On August 30, +1917, respecting the answer of the President of the United States to the +Pope's appeal in favour of peace, he wrote in a gentle mood:-- + +"_Truth and falsehood, sincerity and deceit, logic and sophism are +sporting with gracefulness in this singularly astonishing document. One +would imagine that the President, persuaded that the European +Governments are playing an immense game of "poker" having the life of +the peoples at stake, wanted to go further and to prove to them that at +such a game the great American democracy is their master. Perhaps did he +believe that the "bluff" outbidding would succeed in tearing to pieces +the mask of falsehoods, of ambiguities and hypocrisy, by which the +national Rulers are blinding the peoples in order to lead them more +readily to be slaughtered._" + +On perusing such outrageous writing, one cannot help being convinced +that Mr. Bourassa considers all the distinguished and most patriotic +political leaders who, for the last four years, have guided with so much +talent and devotion France, the British Empire, and their Allies through +the unprecedented crisis they have had to face, are a criminal gang of +murderers. + +So, in Mr. Bourassa's kind opinion, when Mr. Wilson and all the members +of the two Houses of Congress, with a most admirable unanimity of +thought and aspirations, called upon the American nation to avenge their +countrymen, countrywomen and children, murdered on the broad sea, they +were criminally joining with European Rulers in a game of "bluff", going +further than all of them in order to tear to pieces the falsehoods and +hypocrisy they were using to blind their peoples to the facile +acceptance of the slaughtering process. A very strange way, indeed, of +unmasking others' hypocrisy by being more hypocritical than them all. + +The next day, in a second article on the same subject, the Nationalist +leader said:-- + +"_Since the outbreak of the war, more especially since the exhausted +peoples have commenced to ask themselves what will be the result of this +frightful slaughter, the supporters of war to the utmost have tried hard +to create the legend that Germany wants to impose her political, +military and economical domination over the whole universe. To this +first falsehood, they add another one, still more complete: the only way +to assure peace, they say, is to democratize Germany, Austria and all +the nations of the Globe._" + +Two falsehoods no doubt there are, but they are not asserted by those +who affirm Germany's aspiration at universal domination, and who believe +that if true free democratic institutions were to replace autocratic +rule in many countries, peace could be much more easily maintained. They +are circulated by those who deny that such are the two cases. + +Whose fault is it if the almost universal opinion, outside the Central +Empires and their few allies, is that Teutonic ambition, for many years +past, has been to dominate the world? + +Whose fault is it if, for the last forty years, autocratic rule has once +more proved to be the curse of the nations which it governs, and of the +peoples it subjugates? + +Has not Germany only herself to blame? If she had respected the eternal +principles of Divine Morals; if she had been contented of her lot and +mindful of the rights of other nations; if she had been guided by the +true law that Right is above Might; if she had followed the ever +glorious path of Justice, she would not be presently under the ban of +the civilized world rising in a mighty effort to crush her threatening +tyranny out of existence. + +So much the worse for her, if she falls a victim to her insane ambitious +dreams and to the atrocious crimes they have inspired her to commit. In +her calamity, the Nationalists' sympathies will avail her very little, +as they will everywhere meet with the contempt they fully deserve. + +At page 116, in a virulent charge, Mr. Bourassa says that Mr. Wilson +_though a passionate and obstinate pedantic of democracy, is as much of +an autocrat as William of Prussia_. + +Blinded by his fanatical antipathies towards every one and every thing, +directly or indirectly, favouring England, the Nationalist leader fails +to see any difference between the man who blasphemously claims by Divine +Right the power to hurl his whole Empire at the throat of staggering +Humanity, to satisfy his frenzied lust of domination, denying to his +subjects any say whatever in the matter, and the responsible chief of +State who, holding his temporary functions from the expressed will of +the people who trusted him, calls upon that same nation to avenge the +murder of a large number of her citizens, of her women and children, and +the barbarous crimes committed in violation of her Sovereign Rights. + +If Mr. Bourassa is conscious of the enormity of the stand he has taken, +and of the views he has expressed, he is indeed much to be blamed; if he +is not, he is greatly to be pitied. + +At page 109 of his pamphlet--entitled:--"_The Pope, arbiter of peace_," +Mr. Bourassa has written the following monstrous proposition, after +having said that peace must be restored "_without victory_":-- + +"_The more the results of the war are null, for both sides, the more +chances there are for the peoples, astounded at the frightful +uselessness of those monstrous slaughters, to protect themselves against +a new fit of furious folly. To become odious to men, war must be +barren._" + +So Mr. Bourassa has emphatically proclaimed that the war must be barren +of any practical results, that the extraordinary sacrifices of lives, of +resources of wealth, must be without reward of any kind; that the world +must return to the ante-war conditions. And this, he asserts, would be +the best means of preventing a renewal of the monstrous slaughters which +have been the outcome of Germany's horrible attempt at dominating an +enslaved Humanity. + +In all sincerity, it is very difficult to suppose that the exponent of +such outrageously abominable views is conscious of what he says. + +A red hot "pacifist," Mr. Bourassa clamoured as best he could for "PEACE +WITHOUT VICTORY," claiming that it was _the only kind of peace that +could be "just and durable."_ The time was when he pretended--surely +without any show of reason--that such was the sort of peace Mr. Wilson +wanted and suggested. + +Even as far back as December 31, 1915, Mr. Bourassa, no doubt desirous +of giving full vent to his new year's wishes to all, had written:-- + +"_In spite of the lies, of the impudent "bluff," of the sanguinary +appeals and of the false promises of victory of the partisans of war to +excess, in all the warring countries, popular good sense commences to +discern truth.... The more victory_ (the issue) _will be materially null +and sterile for all the nations at war, the more chances there will be +that peace will be lasting and that the peoples will be convinced that +war is not only an abominable crime but an incommensurable folly_." + +Evidently it had already become a hobby on the brain of the Nationalist +leader. He dogmatically proclaims that war between peoples--not the wars +formerly fought by mercenary armies,--is a _crime_,--_abominable_,--and +a _folly_,--_incommensurable_. + +True it is on the part of a State tramping upon all the principles of +Justice and of International Law to gratify her guilty ambition. + +But honourable, glorious, is war on the part of peoples rising in their +patriotic might to resist a sanguinary enemy, to defend their countries, +their homes, their mothers, their wives and their children from +oppression, to stem the conquering efforts of barbarous invaders. + +No doubt it was a crime on the part of Germany to break her pledged +honour by solemn treaties, and to violate Belgium's territory. + +No doubt it was a crime for Germany--and one abominable--to overrun +Belgium, spreading everywhere desolation, devastation, incendiarism, +murder. + +But can it be said that the admirable and heroic resistance Belgium has +opposed to her tyrannical invaders was a dastardly crime? + +No doubt it was a crime--and one most abominable--for Germany to order +the sinking of the Lusitania and hundreds of merchant ships, without the +warning required by the Law of Nations, murdering by hundreds +non-combatants, children, women, and old men. + +But can any one be justified in asserting that, after exhausting, for +the redress of such abominable wrongs, all the resources of diplomacy, +the United States were committing a crime when they accepted the +criminal teutonic challenge and decided to join with the British Empire, +with France, Italy and their Allies, to rescue human Freedom and +Civilization from the impending destruction? + +It is an aberration of mind--incommensurable in depth--for a publicist, +or any one else, to be so blinded by prejudices, so lost to all sense of +justice, as to place on the same footing, on the same level, the +assailant and he who defends his all, the murderer and the victim. + +I positively affirm that I am not actuated by the least ill-will or +ill-feeling against the Nationalist leader, in judging his course and +his views as I do. Thank God, I know enough of the teachings of +Christianity to wish good to all men. But I cannot help being deeply +sorry and deploring that one of my French Canadian compatriots is buried +in such mental darkness as to be unable to perceive the +difference--incommensurable--there is in the present war between the +hideous Teutonic guilt, and the commendable and meritorious defence by +the Allied nations of the most sacred cause on earth:--outraged Justice. + +And with all sincerity, I express the profound wish that during the +prolonged recess the timely war measure adopted to censure and prevent +all utterances detrimental to the best Canadian effort in the conflict, +the Nationalist leader has the pleasure to enjoy, he will reconsider the +whole situation and his opinions--too much widely circulated. Is it yet +possible to hope that, at last, he will see the dawn which will lead him +to the full light with which the great and noble cause of his country +and of the world is shining? + +It is no surprise that such opinions utterly failed to have any echo +amongst the liberty loving people of the neighbouring Republic. They +died their merited shameful death before crossing over the boundary +line, buried deep under the heap of the profound feelings of reprobation +they provoked. + +The Nationalist leader even missed the mark where he felt sure his shot +would strike. We can rest assured that the large majority of the United +States Germans, by birth or origin, would not change the responsible +President of their new country for the autocrat Kaiser from whose +absolutist power so many of them fled to breathe freely in the new land +of promise it was their happy lot to enter. + +Mr. Bourassa met with a complete failure in his expectation to arouse +the feelings of his compatriots over the frontier against the +intervention of the Republic in the war. + +It has been a profound satisfaction for us, French Canadians, to learn +that from the very moment war was declared by the Republic against +Germany, the French Canadian element in the United States has been to +the forefront of the most loyal of our friendly neighbours in fighting +the common enemy. + +The French Canadians of the United States, either by birth or origin, +have wisely turned a deaf ear to the Nationalist leader's seductive but +prejudiced theories, to the wild charges he was wont to level at all the +national rulers of the Allies, and, as a final attempt, at those of the +American Republic. They have rallied to their Colours with enthusiastic +patriotism. + +They have nobly done their duty. They are doing it, and will continue to +do so to the last: to the final victory for which they are fighting with +the patriotic desire to share in the glory of the triumph of their +country. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +THE ALLIES--RUSSIA--JAPAN. + + +Since its outbreak the great war has, and, before it is over, will have, +played havoc in many ways in the wide world. Criminal aspirations have +been quashed, extravagant hopes shattered, an ancient throne overthrown +almost without a clash, an autocrat sovereign murdered, another forced +to abdicate and go into exile. + +In the open airs, on land, over the waves, under sea, the fighting demon +has been most actively at work, ordering one of the belligerent, eager +to obey, to spare no one, young, weak or old. Death has been dropped +from the skies on sleeping non-combatants, assassinating right and left. +On the soil Providentially provided with the resources necessary to +human life, homes have been ruined, their so far happy owners brutally +murdered. On the ocean the treacherous and barbarous submariner, +operating in the broad light of the day, or in the darkness of the +night, has sent, without remorse, to the fathomless bottom, thousands +and thousands of innocent victims, children, women, old men, wounded +soldiers spared on land but drowned at sea. + +Viewed from the height of a much nobler standpoint, the war has +developed a superior degree of heroism perhaps never equalled. Belgians, +Serbians, Poles, Armenians have endured, and are still suffering, their +prolonged martyrdom with a fortitude deserving the greatest admiration. + +The nations united to withstand the torrent of German cruel and depraved +ambition are writing, with the purest of their blood, pages of history +which, for all times to come, will offer to posterity unrivalled +examples of the sound and unswerving patriotism which has elevated them +all to the indomitable determination to bear patiently, perseveringly, +all the sacrifices, in lives courageously given, in resources profusely +spent, in taxation willingly accepted and paid, in works of all kinds +cheerfully performed, which the salvation of human Liberty and +Civilization shall require. + +The collapse of the ancient and hitherto mighty Empire of Russia will +undoubtedly be one of the most startling events of the "Great War." For +the present, I shall not comment, on the causes of this momentous +episode, incidental to the wonderful drama being played on the worldly +stage, more than I have done in a previous chapter. Still the important +change it has made in the respective situation of the belligerents, with +the prospective consequences likely to follow, one way or the other, +calls for some timely consideration. + +Evidently, the downfall, first, of the Imperial regime, second, of the +_de facto_ Republican government by which it was replaced, throwing the +great Eastern ally of Great Britain, France and Italy under the +tyrannical sway of the "bolchevikis" terrorists, most considerably +altered the relative strength of the fighting power of the belligerents. +Very detrimental to the Allies, it was largely favourable to the Central +Empires. The "Triple Entente" as first constituted, was much weakened by +the desertion of one of the great partners in the heavy task they had +undertaken, whilst the "Triple Alliance" was strengthened in a relative +proportion, at least for the time being and the very near future. + +Evidence, incontrovertible, is coming to light, proving what had been +soundly presumed, that "bolchevikism" was not merely the result, as in +other instances, of the violence of sanguinary revolutionists +overpowering a regular progressive movement of political freedom and +reform, but that it has been the outcome of German intrigue easily +succeeding in corrupting into shameless treason the "bolchevikis" +leaders. + +As a Sovereign State, as an independent nation, Russia was, in honour +bound, pledged not to consent to a separate peace, and to make peace +with Germany only with conditions to which all the Allies would agree. +Acceptance of, and concurrence in, all peace agreements, were the +essential clause of the pledge Great Britain, France and Russia had +reciprocally taken in going to war with the Central Empires. With this +sacred pledge Italy concurred fully on joining the Allies. + +To that solemn pledge, the American Republic has emphatically assented +when she threw her weighty sword in the balance against blood stained +and murderous Germany. + +The "bolchevikis'" treacherous government repudiated the solemn +engagement of their country, threw her honour to the winds, sold her +dearest national interests by the infamous Brest-Litovsk treaty. +Betrayed Russia was out of the war, leaving her Allies to their fate. + +From a military point of view, the consequences were easily foreseen. +Freed from the danger of further attacks on the eastern front, both +Germany and Austria could send their eastern armies, the first, on the +western front in France, the second, on the Italian front. Germany, only +requiring a sufficient force to keep down trodden Russia under the yoke +treacherously fastened on her neck by the traitors who had ignominiously +sold their country to her enemy, and anxious to profit to the utmost by +her success in coercing the Russians to agree to dishonourable peace +conditions, hurried more than a million men over to the western front. +Austria did likewise, sending a large force with the hope of smashing +the Italians out of the fight. + +Those were no doubt very anxious days. All remember how the Italian army +lost in a very short time all the ground they had so stubbornly +conquered. + +Germany made formidable preparations to strike, in the very early spring +of the present year, a decisive blow by which she fully expected to +reach and take Paris. We shall never forget the feverish hours we lived +when came the successive reports of the crushing advance of the Teutonic +hordes so close to the illustrious capital of France. + +For a while, it seemed to be--and really it was--a renewal of the first +terrific invasion of northern France, in 1914. Fortunately, it was +Providentially decreed that the second onslaught was to meet with a +second Marne disaster. The Huns were forced to retire after a tremendous +loss of men and war materials, the allied armies, brilliantly led and +fighting heroically, redeeming all the lost territory and, at the moment +I am writing, moving steadily towards the German frontier. + +The great good luck of the Allies, treasonably sacrificed by the Russian +bolchevikis terrorist government, was the solemn entry of the United +States into the European conflict. + +Preparing for the grand effort which she confidently expected would be +final, Germany rashly decided to resume her barbarous submarine +campaign, positively determined to criminally violate all the principles +of International Law regulating warfare on the seas. That outrageous +decision was her fatal doom. + +Its direct result was to bring the American Republic into the war. And +then the whole world was called upon to witness, with unbounded delight, +the very impressive spectacle of millions of fighting free men being +successfully transported over the sea, and landed on the French soil, to +join the grand army which, for the last four years, had been resisting +the full might of the autocratic forces. + +However difficult it is to foretell what the political developments of +the present deplorable Russian situation will be, still it is not +illusory to believe that, history once more repeating itself, the +present sanguinary Russian regime will hasten its well deserved +ignominious downfall by the very brutal excesses it multiplies in its +delirious tyranny. There are too many elements of the immense population +of Russia favourable to an orderly and sensible government, to suppose +that they will long fail to gather their strength in order to redeem +their country's honour, and to remove from power the traitors who are +the shame of their fair land. When the infallible reaction sets in, it +will increase the more in momentum that it will have been longer +repressed by foul means. + +The most important point of the present Russian situation to consider is +that of the best initiative the Allies could, and ought to, take +respecting the military question. + +Many are of opinion that it would be possible, for the Allies, to help +Russia out of the present difficulties by an armed support. Such views +have been more especially expressed in the United States. Could they, or +can they be carried out? I must say that in a large measure I share the +opinion of those who would give an affirmative answer to the question. + +It is well known that the matter has been most seriously considered by +the Allies, and a favourable solution seems on the way of a satisfactory +realization. + +To the armed intervention of the Allies in Russia, following closely +upon the infamous Brest-Litovsk peace treaty, there was a very serious +obstacle of German creation. + +It was evident, at the very start, that if intervention there was to be, +the one Ally to play the most important part in the great undertaking +would be Japan. + +The British statesmen who, several years ago, brought about the treaty +of alliance between Great Britain and Japan have deserved much from the +Empire and from the world generally. Surely they had a clear insight of +the future. True to her treaty obligations Japan at once sided with +Great Britain in the war. All those who have closely followed the trend +of events since the outbreak of the hostilities, know how much Japan has +done to assist in chasing the German military and mercantile fleets from +the high seas, more especially from the Pacific ocean. Canada owes her a +debt of gratitude for the protection she has afforded our western +British Columbia coast from the raids of German war ships. + +Foreseeing that the proximity of Japan to eastern Russia was an +inducement for the Allies to decide upon an armed intervention which, +starting from Siberia, might roll westward over the broad lands leading +back to the European eastern war front, Germany lost no time in trying +to poison Russian public opinion against the Japanese. Her numerous +representatives and agents told the Russians that if they allowed Japan +to send her army on Russian territory, they would be doomed to fall +under Japanese sway. They recalled the still recent Russo-Japanese war, +amplifying the supposed aims of Japan so as to stir up the national +feelings of the Russians. Such a cry, assiduously and widely spread, was +no doubt a dangerous one. + +Under those circumstances, Japan wisely decided to remain in the +expectation of further developments before moving. She took the safe +stand that she would intervene only upon the request of the Russians +themselves, pledging her word of honour that her only purpose would be +to free Russia from German domination, and that she would withdraw from +Russian territory as soon as complete Russian independence would have +been restored and the treacherous Teutonic aims foiled. + +Evidences are increasing in number and importance that the Huns' +propaganda in Russia against Japan is being successfully counteracted by +the good sense of the people, realizing how much their vital national +interests have been trampled upon by Germany in imposing her peace +conditions on their country betrayed by the bolchevikis rulers. + +An armed Allied force has been sent to, and has been, for some weeks, +operating, in Siberia so far with commendable results. + +For one, I have most at heart an expectation which I would be most happy +to see realized. It seems to me that there ought to be a chance, nay +more, a possibility, for the Allies to organize, between this day and +next spring, a strongly supported intervention in Russia. In that event, +Japan of course, would take the lead. She could rapidly send to help the +Russians to resume their part in the war against Germany at least a +million of men; two millions if they were needed. As a guarantee of +Japan's good faith, the Allies, more especially the United States, could +send over contingents to Siberia. + +There is no doubt whatever that so supported, the revulsion of Russian +public feeling, once set in motion, would soon overwhelm the +bolchevikis. A sensible and patriotic government, once at the helm of +the state, could easily and rapidly reorganize a powerful army out of +the numerous available millions. The financial aspect of the question +would certainly be the most difficult for Russia to meet, after the +exhaustive strain she has had to bear. But however great their moneyed +effort, the United States could yet do a great deal to help Russia +financially. + +Will the hopes of so many be realized, and will Russia, resuming her +place of honour in the glorious ranks of the Allies, be found battling +once more with them when together they will finally crush the German +tyrannical militarism? God only knows, and time will tell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE LAST PEACE PROPOSALS. + + +I was writing the last pages of this work when the surprising news was +flashed over the cable that Austria-Hungary had taken the initiative of +suggesting peace discussion, which proposition she had communicated to +all the belligerents, to the neutral governments and even to the Holy +See. Without delay the rumour proved to be true. The very next day the +full text of Austria's communication was published all over the world. + +I have read it with great care and, I confess, with profound amazement. + +From several stand-points, this document is astonishing and weighty: +astonishing as it reveals more than ever before the astuteness of the +inspiration which dictated it; weighty because it derives its importance +from one of the most serious situation of the world's affairs ever +recorded in History. + +It is difficult to suppose that the Austrian Government really expected +that their move would be considered as the outcome of their own +initiative. Not the hand, but the sword--the dominating sword--behind +the Throne is clearly visible. + +The carefully drafted document, issued from Vienna, was evidently +dictated from Berlin. It is stamped with the Teutonic seal. + +After the experience of the last four years--I can safely say of the +last half century as well--over credulous is he who believes that, +swayed as she has been by her overpowering northern neighbour, Austria +would have dared to address such a proposition to the Allies if she had +not been asked by Germany to do so. + +It is rather amusing to read the news cabled from Amsterdam, Holland, on +the 20th of September, that an official communication issued in Berlin +said that the German Ambassador in Vienna that day presented Germany's +reply to the recent Austro-Hungarian peace note. The purport of the note +was that Germany agreed to participate in the proposed exchange of +views. This is indeed high class cynicism. + +The document would certainly call for somewhat lengthy and strong +comments, but they can be dispensed with after the curt, sharp and +decisive reply it has elicited from those it was intended to seduce and +deceive. + +President Wilson was the first to answer a positive, a formidable NO, +which, thundered out from Washington, was echoed with equal force in +London, Paris and Rome. So that the astute attempt to deter the Allies +from the glorious course they were forced to adopt by Germany, and by +Austria herself, was doomed to failure, and bound to meet with the +contempt it deserved. + +But a few remarks expressing the retort that strikes one's mind on +reading the Austrian communication, are in order and had better be made. +The whole stress of the document is that peace should be restored as +soon as possible on account of the sacrifices and sufferings war +nowadays entail, and in conformity with the unanimous wishes of the +peoples engaged in the conflict. + +Did Austria ever suppose that, when she addressed that sadly famous and +outrageous ultimatum to Servia, dated the 23rd of July, 1914, which she +well knew would bring about the cataclysm she now feigns to deplore--and +which Germany and herself were longing for--the war would be only a +child's play, a game of golf, or something of the kind? Was Austria at +that time cherishing the kind feelings of the German Kronprinz who, on +being asked by an American lady, in a social event, at Berlin, why he +was so desirous of seeing a great war, replied that "_it was only for +the fun of the thing_?" + +That war, when once declared, would have terrible consequences, would +cost millions of dear lives, would cripple many more millions for the +rest of their earthly days, would cost innumerable millions--even +billions--of hard earned money, would destroy an immense amount of +accumulated wealth, would delay for years the onward march of Humanity +towards more and more prosperous destinies, was not only long foreseen +before it broke out, but was positively known to be pregnant with all +such disasters. + +But what was not foreseen, not known, nor imagined as at all possible, +after nearly twenty centuries of Christianity, was that, war being on, +Germany, the Power responsible for it, guilty of the crime of having let +loose the frightful hurricane, would multiply the horrors inseparable +from military operations, with unconceivable barbarous acts condemned by +all international, moral and Divine laws. + +It was not foreseen, nor supposed possible, that heroism would be +challenged by murder, that the glorious defenders of their country's +rights would have to fight against sanguinary savages obeying the +barbarian orders of a modern Attila. + +It was not foreseen that hundreds of children, women, old men, wounded +soldiers, would be assassinated on the open sea and sent to their +eternal watery graves. + +So far as the horrors of regular warfare were concerned, they were, as I +have just said, very well known. And was it not on account of this +knowledge that Great Britain and France had exhausted all their efforts +in favour of the maintenance of peace? + +Was it not out of this knowledge that England had, for more than twenty +years, implored the Berlin Government to agree at least to partial +disarmament, to discontinue, or, at the least, to reduce war ship +building operations? + +When Austria, bowing herself down to the ground under the German +tyrannical lash, unjustly and cruelly declared war against weak Servia, +she knew what the horrors of the conflict could not fail to be. How is +it that at that time she was not moved by the sympathetic feelings +expressed in her recent appeal for peace negotiations? + +How is it that Austria, and her inspiring angel, Germany, are getting so +nervous about the misfortunes of war, just at the time when they are +forced to admit that they are utterly unable to realize the aims for +which they brought on the frightful struggle? + +How is it that those who could order with clear conscience and fiendish +delight the violation of Belgium guaranteed neutrality, the sinking of +the Lusitania and so many other ships carrying non-combatants, children, +women and old men, the murder of so many innocent victims, the Belgian +deportations, the destruction of the monuments of art--the work of human +genius--are suddenly moved to pity just as they see the hand writing on +the wall warning them that their days of foul enjoyments are at end? + +How is it that the voice who dictated the following sentence was not +silenced and choked by the abominable lie it contains? How is it that +the hand that wrote it was not instantly dried up at the impudent +falsehood it expresses? + +Austria's official communication says in part:-- + +"_The Central Powers leave it in no doubt that they are only waging a +war of defence for the integrity and the security of their +territories._" + +But why is it that the Central Empires are now only waging a defensive +war, if it is not because after having opened the game with the +certainty of crushing their opponents by the tremendous power of their +formidable military organization, they are getting beaten and +overpowered by the unrivalled heroism called forth by their criminal +attempt at destroying weak nations and enslaving Humanity? + +The Austrian and German Governments wilfully forget that the important +point is not to consider who are the belligerents that are NOW forced by +the fortune of arms to wage a defensive struggle. It is to ascertain who +started the conflict of an OFFENSIVE war. + +To that question, the voice of the truly civilized world has answered +with no uncertain sound. It was given, and ever since most energetically +emphasized, the very day the first Austrian shot was fired at Belgrade, +the first thundering German gun and the first German soldier ordered to +cross over the Belgian frontier. + +The Austrian tentative peace document pretends "_that all peoples, on +whatever side they may be fighting, long for a speedy end to the bloody +struggle_." + +This is so evidently true that the writer of the communication might +very properly have dispensed with asserting it. + +But have the Austrian and the German Governments forgotten that the +peoples were equally longing for the maintenance of peace during the +many years of intense war preparation prior to the outbreak of the +hostilities in 1914? + +If they are not yet aware of it, the Central Empires must be taught that +the Allied nations have another longing than that for peace, to which +they have given precedence and for which they will continue to fight +strenuously until it is fully gratified. They long for an honourable, a +just and lasting peace. They long to see once more the old landmarks of +Civilization and Political Liberty emerging safe and radiant from the +waves of Teutonic Barbarism. They long, and most earnestly, for peace +restored under such conditions as will put an end to extravagant, +ruinous and autocratic militarism, which will henceforth relieve the +peoples from the drastic obligation of maintaining, at a cost more and +more crushing, an ever increasing military organization for fear of +being suddenly subjugated by an ambitious foe bent on dominating the +world. + +Using the very words of the most admirable speech addressed by President +Wilson to the United States Congress, on the 11th of February last, the +Allied Nations long for a peace which will provide "_that peoples and +provinces are no longer to be bartered about from sovereignty to +sovereignty as if they were mere chattels and pawns in a game, even the +great game now for ever discredited of the balance of power; but that +every territorial settlement involved in this war must be made in the +interest and for the benefit of the populations concerned and not as a +part of any mere adjustment or compromise of claims amongst rival +states_." + +The Allied peoples are longing for a peace by which "_all well defined +national aspirations shall be accorded the utmost satisfaction that can +be accorded them without introducing new or perpetuating old elements of +discord, and antagonism that would be likely in time to break the peace +of Europe and consequently of the world_." + +The _pacifists_ of the Allied nations who have, like the Nationalist +leader and his henchmen in the Province of Quebec, clamoured for peace +by compromise, must have had a few hours of delightful enjoyment after +reading Austria's communication. It is evidently the echo of their oft +repeated views and has been carefully drafted to stir them to further +exertions in favour of a settlement which will gratify their ill +disguised Teutonic sympathies. + +Austria's document is a plea intended to be strong for peace by +negotiations irrespective of the war situation and its probable result. + +This is the kind of peace dear to the heart of the Nationalist leader +and his friends. The newspaper "_Le Devoir_" is their daily organ in +Montreal. A Sunday paper called "_Le Nationaliste_" is the weekly +edition of the daily organ. + +By what mysterious inspiration was "_Le Nationaliste_" able to forestall +the publication of the Austrian peace document by an article in its +issue of Sunday, the 13th of August, which summarizes the leading +reasons given by the Government of Vienna to induce the Allied +Governments to agree "_to a confidential and unbinding discussion_" of +the conditions of peace, "_at a neutral meeting place_?" + +Since the official publication of the document, our Nationalists, who +had been subdued by the Order-in-Council tightening the censure of +disloyal writings and speaking, and reduced to the necessity of merely +whispering their fond hopes of an early peace which would relieve the +Central Empires, Turkey and Bulgaria from the deserved chastisement of +their crimes, are getting again more outspoken in the expression of +their views and of their Teutonic proclivities. The street corner +propaganda is being resumed with more discreet vigour than formerly when +loud talk was considered safe. New efforts, better guarded against a +compromising responsibility, to instil the virus in the body politic, +are tried over again. They creep in a few newspapers well known for +their hardly disguised hostility to the cause of the Allies and to the +participation of Canada to its defence. All this under the hypocritical +cover of a longing for the restoration of peace and the cessation of the +sacrifices the country is still making for the victory for which all +loyal British subjects are praying and doing their best to secure. + +Germany has prudently--cowardly is the more proper word--remained +behind, satisfied, for the time being, to play the part of prompter to +her vassal, Austria. But, however desirous of remaining free to +repudiate publicly, if considered more advisable, Austria's move, she +could not help showing her hand. She betrayed herself by the peace offer +she has had the outrageous audacity to make to Belgium she has +barbarously crucified. + +And what are the terms of this astonishing proposal? I will mention only +two of them. + +First: "THAT BELGIUM SHALL REMAIN NEUTRAL UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR." + +That Germany should have decided to address such a demand to Belgium is +truly inconceivable. Has she forgotten the days when Belgium was +neutral, and determined to remain so, under the joint protection of +England, France and Germany, bound by solemn treaty to uphold Belgian +independence? Does she not realize that if Belgium has not been neutral +up to this day, she has been the cause of it in tearing to pieces the +_scrap of paper_ which should have been the sacred shield of the nation +she criminally martyred? After having violated Belgium's frontier, +overrun her territory, destroyed her happy homes, murdered by thousands +her children, her women, her mothers, her old men, ransomed her to the +tune of hundreds of millions, without granting her liberty, shattered +her monuments of arts, she has the impudence to ask her to betray those +who hastened to her defence, and who are pledged to require the +restoration of her complete independence with due reparation as one of +the essential conditions of peace. A more brazen outrage cannot be +imagined. It is on a par with that addressed to England whose neutrality +Germany wanted to secure at the cost of her honour in betraying France. + +What was the true object of Germany in making such a proposition? Was it +not to protect herself against the increasing likelihood that the Allied +army would soon be able to enter on German soil by passing through +Belgium. But in that event, so much to be hoped for, there would be that +difference that whilst Germany invaded Belgium in sheer violation of her +solemn treaty obligations, France, England and the United States would +honour themselves in turning the guilty invaders out of the soil they +have sullied by their hideous presence and their horrible savageness. + +The second German peace proposition to Belgium reads as follows:--"_That +Belgium shall use her good offices to secure the return of the German +colonies_." + +And such a request is made by the Power that, in spite of the treaties +it was in honour bound to respect, ordered the German army to conquer +Belgium in a dastardly rush, in order to reach France at once and crush +her out of the conflict before she could be helped by Great Britain and +her Colonies! Incredible indeed! + +Germany and Austria knew very well that their proposals would be +indignantly and contemptuously rejected. But they had a twofold object +in making them. First, they wanted to stir up their own peoples to +further efforts in carrying on the struggle by throwing upon the Allies +the apparent responsibility of refusing even a confidential and +unbinding discussion of the question of the restoration of peace. + +Second, they were anxious to make a strong bid for the support of the +_pacifists_ of the Allied countries. + +How much will they succeed in galvanizing the enthusiasm of their +peoples for another grand effort, remains to be seen. + +So far as their attempt to move our _pacifists_ to exert themselves in +favour of a peace by compromise, it has already met with a complete +failure. Our Nationalist _pacifists_ are getting so few and so far +between, that they will most likely once more disappear and give up the +street propaganda. + +On completing the reading of the official communication of Austria, +President Wilson at once gave his reply, authorizing the Secretary of +State to issue the following statement, dated the 16th of September and +published broadcast on the next day:-- + +"_I am authorized by the President to state that the following will be +the reply of this Government to the Austro-Hungarian note proposing an +unofficial conference of belligerents_: + +"'_The Government of the United States feels that there is only one +reply which it can make to the suggestion of the Imperial +Austro-Hungarian Government. It has repeatedly and with entire candor +stated the terms upon which the United States would consider peace and +can and will entertain no proposal for a conference upon a matter +concerning which it has made its position and purpose so plain.'_" + +On the eleventh day of February, 1918, President Wilson, instead of +addressing as usual a message to the two Houses, went personally to meet +the Senate and the House of Representatives, in Congress assembled, and, +in a most admirable speech, replied to the then recent peace utterances +of Count von Hertling, the German Chancellor, and Count Czernin, the +Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, fully explaining the only principles +by which the Government of the United States would be guided when peace +negotiations do take place. This most important statement is published +as an appendix to this book. It is worthy of the great statesman who +made it, and deserves the most attentive reading on account of the lofty +views and noble principles it expresses, of the large issues it involves +and of the ardent patriotism it inspires. + +The prime ministers of Great Britain and France have signified their +entire assent to the energetic stand taken by President Wilson in the +above quoted reply to Austria's peace communication. + +The whole British Empire, France, the United States and Italy are a unit +in refusing to consider for a moment Austria's cynical peace proposals. + +Belgium, from the cross of martyrdom to which the Huns' barbarity has +nailed her, has summoned all her wonderful courage, in her long and +cruel agony, to repudiate with scorn the infamous German proposition to +betray those who are pledged to be her saviours. + +Consequently, the peace offensive, so cleverly planned by Germany and +opened by her contemptible Austrian satellite, has met with as dismal a +failure as the military offensive launched on the twenty-first day of +March last, with such superior numerical forces, and unbounded +confidence that this gigantic effort would at last smash the Allies' +resistance. + +Just as the Teutonic hordes are hurled back by the matchless strategy of +the Chief Commander of the Allied armies and their incomparable heroism, +the Austrian peace offensive communication is returned to their authors +a miserable "_scrap of paper_". + +And the grand and noble fight will go on until Germany is brought to her +knees and forced to recognize that "THE RESOURCES OF CIVILIZATION ARE +NOT YET EXHAUSTED." + +The modern Huns are doomed to a very sad awakening from their dream of +universal domination. + +Germany has challenged the world to a deadly struggle. She must bear the +consequences, however sad they may be. Four years ago, anticipating a +crushing victory, she exulted over the early fall of her enemies, madly +certain that in a few weeks they would kneel down crying for mercy. She +trusted her all to the fortunes of war. They will at last go against +her. She would have been cruelly triumphant. Will she be cowardly in +defeat? + +Austria has blindly served Germany's criminal ambition. She must abide +by the result of her blindness. + +Both carried away by passion, they forgot that there would be a terrible +reckoning day for their atrocious crime. It is near at hand, and they +cannot avoid being called to a severe account for their foul deeds. + +Kaiser Wilhelm II will soon find out that Divine Justice is very +different from what he fondly believed. He will receive the proper +answer to his blasphemous appeals to the Almighty to bless with success +his guilty ambition to dominate the world. He will learn that from above +the innocent victims whom he has mercilessly sacrificed to his lust of +autocratic power, have cried for vengeance and have been heard. He bears +the guilt of blood and sacrilegious war. He shall receive his deserts in +due time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +NECESSARY PEACE CONDITIONS. + + +It can be positively affirmed that, taking no account whatever of the +treasonable views of the _defeatists_, and no more of the disloyal +opinions of the _pacifists_--because they only deserve absolute contempt +and reprobation--the peoples called the Allies have been long ago, are +now, and will remain to the last, unanimous on the essential PEACE +CONDITIONS without which all the sacrifices they have made and are +making would be a total irreparable loss. + +It has been proclaimed with the highest authority, and universally +approved, that henceforth PEACE MUST BE JUST AND DURABLE. Such it should +always have been. + +The principle is no doubt very easily enunciated. It is applauded by all +and every where, even by Germany and Austria. The great, the +insuperable, difficulty is to agree upon SUCH CONDITIONS as will +PERMANENTLY, and to the COMPLETE SATISFACTION OF ALL CONCERNED, bless +the world with the maintenance of a TRULY JUST AND DURABLE PEACE. + +It is better to admit at once that the very moment the question is +considered, the presently contending belligerents are as far apart as +the two poles of the earthly globe. + +It is extremely easy to prove it. + +No one now ignores--or at least should fail to realize--what kind of +peace would be accepted by Germany as JUST AND DURABLE. + +To be satisfied with a settlement of peace, Germany would require the +sanction by her opponents of her right to maintain, develop and +strengthen her MILITARISM so threatening to the universe. + +At the time she was exulting over the great and crushing victory which +she was sure to have within her powerful grasp, in debating with her +vanquished enemies, the conditions of peace, Germany, elated as she +would certainly have been by her triumph, would have positively claimed +the annexation of Belgium and of all the northern part of France by +right of conquest. She would not have been less exacting than she was, +in 1870, when in the face of indignant but powerless Europe, she +stripped France of her two fine and wealthy provinces, Alsace and +Lorraine. + +She would have claimed the right to supersede England as mistress of the +seas,--German supremacy replacing the British and henceforth ruling the +waves. + +She would have claimed the annexation of Russian Poland, and that of +Servia to Austria. + +She would have claimed the recognition of her imperial paramount power +over the Balkans, which she would have united under the direct sway of +her ally and vassal, Bulgaria. + +Victorious over all continental Europe and equally over Great Britain, +she would most likely have claimed the cession to her of the great +British autonomous Colonies for the purpose of pouring over to Canada, +Australia and South Africa her increasingly overflowing population. And +to better achieve that most coveted result, she would have destroyed at +once the free institutions they enjoy under the British Crown to replace +them by her autocratic rule. + +In one of his illogical pamphlets, abounding in extravagant views, the +Nationalist leader has denied with scorn that Germany had ever intended +to acquire Canada by force of arms. He supported his assertion by the +declaration made to the contrary by a German Minister. But he failed to +explain that this German public man said so only when the Berlin +Government had fully realized that they could not succeed in breaking +asunder the mighty British Empire. The Teutonic declaration was +hypocritical, intended to deceive, and to supply our Nationalist +"_pacifists_" with what would seem a plausible argument to cover their +sympathies for the gentle cause of the tender hearted Huns. It is very +easy to disclaim any aspiration to possess what one is sure never to +get. + +Triumphant Germany would have bargained very hard to lay her powerful +hand on the great Indian Empire. + +She would have dismembered Russia, as she has effectively done--at least +temporarily--by the infamous Brest-Litovsk treaty. + +She would have strongly supported Austria in destroying for ever Italy's +legitimate aspirations to round off her national territory by the +annexation of that part of Austria's possessions called _The Trentino_, +which is hers by nature. + +Following the precedent she had laid down, in 1870, after her triumph +over France, Germany would undoubtedly have exacted from her fallen +enemies, billions and billions of dollars as indemnities of war. + +And Germany, with such a peace treaty imposed to her despairing enemies +with her sanguinary sword at their throat ready to murder them--as she +did at Brest-Litovsk--would have swayed the world with her UNIVERSAL +DOMINATION. + +But I hear--I must say without being the least frightened--the +thundering clamour of the Nationalist leader crying that Germany does +not NOW claim such peace conditions as above enumerated. + +Very true, and why? + +Only because she is no longer able to exact and impose them! + +In 1914, Germany being victorious over all Europe, England included, +after a four months overpowering campaign, as she expected, would +certainly not have been satisfied with less than the conditions just +specified. They were the goal for which she had been strenuously +preparing for fifty years, her success, in 1870, being the preliminary +opening of her conquests. + +To bring Germany to renounce--temporarily--to her fond hopes of +domination, it has required the heroic efforts and the untold +sacrifices, in men and money, which Great Britain, her Colonial Empire, +France, Italy, Belgium, Japan, betrayed Russia, and, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, +the United States, have made during more than the last four years and +which they are pledged to make until a successful issue. + +The kind of peace as above would have been what can be very properly +called--Germany's "OFFENSIVE PEACE." In Germany's opinion this would +have been the just and durable peace dear to her so kind heart. + +But having failed to carry the tremendous victory for which she had so +powerfully prepared, Germany would NOW likely agree to negotiate what +can be as properly called a "DEFENSIVE PEACE." + +By "DEFENSIVE PEACE", I mean Germany negotiating NOW with her opponents +with the determination to repulse, as much as possible, their just +claims, to prevent them to the utmost limit to reap the legitimate +fruits of their admirable endeavours, to thwart the realization of their +noble aspirations to protect the world hereafter against her guilty and +barbarous militarism. + +Germany--I mean, of course, the Teutonic Imperial Government--has yet +given no sign of a change of mind on the vital points at stake in the +consideration of the restoration of peace. If the fortune of arms was +once more to favour her armies, her blood stained for Colours, she +would, to-morrow, be as mercilessly exacting as she would have been, in +1914, had she triumphantly entered Paris inside of two months after her +challenge to the civilized world. + +Germany is surely not a convert to sound Christian principles. She will +not repent for her crimes. She does not feel the tortures of remorse at +her foul deeds. She would certainly be a relapser, in the near future, +if the Allies, unwisely heeding the clamour of the "_pacifists_", +imprudently gratified her ACTUAL wish for a peace compromise. + +And before long Humanity would be forced to go again, in much aggravated +conditions, over the way of the cross she has been threading along for +nearly five years, steeped to the knees in the blood of millions of her +heroic sons, with a reorganized Germany this time straining all the +Huns' accumulated power to lead Civilization to her Calvary. + +With God's grace, that shall not be. Five years of martyrdom have +deserved and will receive JUSTICE. + +After having explained what Germany, from her stand-point, considers a +JUST AND DURABLE PEACE, let us see what such a peace means from the +Allies' stand-point. + +Every free man has a right to his own opinion. However, he must never +forget that Liberty of opinion does not mean--never meant--absence of +knowledge, ignorance of the basic principles of political society. + +I do not hesitate to expound what the real conditions of the coming +peace MUST BE to make it JUST AND DURABLE. + +Let the inveterate opponents of Political Liberty say what they please, +it is undeniable that the present war has rapidly developed into a +deadly conflict between Autocratic Power and Political Freedom. + +Consequently a peace patched up to uphold Autocracy and destroy free +institutions could not be JUST and DURABLE. + +Under the dominating circumstances of the present struggle, to bring it +to a satisfactory conclusion, peace, to be Just and Durable, must be +restored with all the necessary guarantees that Political Liberty will +hereafter be safe against the foul attempts of military despotism. + +This _sine qua non_ condition is general in its nature and equally +interests all the contending Allied nations. + +Let us now consider the peace conditions which, though of general +importance so far as they are NECESSARY for its permanency, are +essential from the particular stand-point of each one of the Allies +separately. + +I shall begin the review by considering the particular case of Great +Britain. + +To be JUST and DURABLE for the British Empire, the future peace treaty +must not be so drafted as to supersede British sea supremacy by that of +Germany. + +The question of what is to be done with the great German African +Colonies, conquered by the South African Dominion army, is next in +importance to England's sea supremacy, from the British Empire +stand-point. + +Germany, very far from foreseeing what was to happen, deliberately +opened that question when she precipitated the present conflict by +coercing Austria to crush weak Servia, herself challenging Russia and +France, and thundering at Belgium in violation of her most sacred treaty +obligations. + +Great Britain, as in honour bound, standing by Belgium, was forced to +fight with Germany. The great autonomous Colonies nobly rallying to her +support, the South African Dominion, Boers and British admirably united +for the purpose, undertook for her share to conquer the German African +Colonies. She has grandly succeeded. + +If, as we all hope, the Allies are finally victorious, would it be just +to relinquish Great Britain's right over the German African Colonies, +more especially if the South African Dominion is strongly opposed--as +there is no doubt she will be--to their retrocession? + +And what about Belgium and France? No peace treaty could be called JUST +nor could be DURABLE, which would not completely restore Belgium's +independence; which would not oblige Germany to indemnify Belgium for +the damages wrought upon her, more especially those which were inflicted +to the Belgian weak but heroic nation out of sheer barbarous +destruction. + +To France, the northern part of her presently occupied territory, +together with Alsace and Lorraine, MUST be restored. + +The Germans are loudly crying that in exacting the restoration to France +of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, the Allies would be partly +dismembering the German Empire. + +Quite so, and why not? Does the victim of the highway man lose the right +to claim his property from the ruffian who has stolen it by brutal +force? + +In 1870, under the circumstances all know, Prussia imposed upon France +the cession of Alsace and Lorraine, rounding off the territory of the +new German Empire. + +France naturally smarted under the cruelty of the condition which she +could not help accepting. For many years she cherished the hope that the +lost provinces would ultimately return to the parental home. + +But it is well known how TIME is an efficient cure of many ills. +France's yearning for the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine had +gradually subsided. The general opinion was spreading that the +Alsace-Lorraine matter was more and more becoming a finally settled +question. + +Before the war, no Power, European or American, would have countenanced +France in any attempt to break peace to run her chance of reconquering +Alsace and Lorraine. France knew it perfectly well and at last bowed to +her fate. + +Who has reopened the closed question of Alsace and Lorraine? Is it not +Germany herself? + +Great Britain, Russia, the United States and Italy, who would not have +supported France in an OFFENSIVE WAR with the objective of getting back +her lost provinces, are now a most determined unit in favour of the +restoration of Alsace and Lorraine to France as a result of the +DEFENSIVE war Germany forced her to wage. + +That would be JUSTICE pure and simple: the peace treaty MUST do it. + +Germany having run the risk of reopening the Alsace-Lorraine acute +question, the Allies MUST close it anew but this time against the Huns. + +Germany MUST also pay for the devastation she has savagely spread in +France. + +I stand firm for a final settlement of the Austro-Italian too long +pending question by giving to Italy the Trentino territory to which she +has an evident national claim supported by the best of geographical +conditions. + +Servia's independence MUST be once more secured, and Poland SHOULD be +resuscitated. + +The United States part in the war is truly a grand, a noble one. They +have no particular territorial interest to serve. Their only object is +the general public good. They will be the benefactors of Humanity in +claiming for their Allies the above enunciated conditions without which +no JUST and DURABLE peace can be expected nor obtained. + +It is most important to caution the public against the insidious +clamours of our _"pacifists"_, trying again to deceive the people by +asserting that Germany is ready to negotiate for peace on fair terms. + +The Huns will acquiesce only to such peace terms as they will be forced +to. + +The Allies are better to be guided in consequence in their unfaltering +determination to realize a JUST and DURABLE peace by a GLORIOUS +VICTORY. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +CONCLUSION. + + +My ardent desire to speak the plain truth and only the truth, is just as +strong to-day as it was when, in concluding my French work, I summarized +the situation such as it was at the end of the year 1916, to show the +hard duty incumbent on all the Allies, Canada included. It has been +perhaps still more intensified by the outrageous efforts of those +amongst us whose sole object has been, since the outbreak of the +hostilities, to discourage our people from the herculean task they had +bravely undertaken. + +Two years have since elapsed--years full of great events, and of +untiring heroism on the part of the glorious defenders of Justice and +Right--and I do not see the slightest reason to modify the conclusions I +then arrived at as a matter of strict duty. Unworthy of public +confidence is the man who, pandering to the supposed prejudices of his +countrymen, refrains out of weakness, or of more guilty considerations, +to tell them what they are bound to do for their own country, for their +Empire, for the world, in the supreme crisis of our time. + +True every one is longing for the restoration of peace. But few are +those who, even before being tired of the war, were ready to curb their +heads under the German yoke, are now praying for a compromise between +the Allies and their enemies. There are some left, it is sad to admit. +Everywhere they are chased by the indignant public opinion daily growing +more determined that millions of heroes shall not have given their lives +in vain, that millions of others, wounded on the fields of battles, +shall not, until the last of them is gone for ever, be the betrayed +victims of Teutonic dastardly ambition. + +True, peace is sorely wanted, and would be welcomed by the thanksgivings +to the Almighty of grateful peoples, who have borne with undaunted +courage such untold and admirable sacrifices to uphold their Rights and +their Honour. But it cannot be sued for by the nations whom Germany +wanted to enslave by the might of her crushing militarism operating +under the dictates of a new code of International Law of her own +barbarous creation. + +Thank God, the flowing tide of unlimited Teutonic ambition let loose +over the world, more than four years ago, has met with inaccessible +summits where love of Justice, respect of Right, devotion to human +Civilization, obedience to Christian Law, heroism of sacrifices, were so +deeply entrenched, that they could not be reached and conquered. From +this commanding altitude, they not only continue to defy the tyrants +bent on dominating the universe, but they are mightily smashing their +power. + +From the overshadowing point of view which cannot be forgotten, or +wilfully abandoned, nothing has changed since the German Empire, in her +delirious aspirations, challenged the world to the almost superhuman +conflict by which she felt certain to succeed in realizing her fond +dream of universal domination. + +At the outbreak of the war, ever since, to-day, to-morrow, there were, +there are and there will be but three alternatives to the restoration of +peace:-- + +1.--A victorious German peace imposed on beaten and cowed belligerents: +the peace of the "_defeatists_." + +2.--A peace by compromise, patched up by disheartened "_pacifists_," +lured by cunningness, winning where force would have failed to succeed, +to agree to conditions pregnant with all the horrors of a new and still +greater struggle in the near future. + +3.--A peace the result of the indomitable courage and perseverance of +all the nations who have joined together to put an end to Germany's +ambition to rule the world, and to destroy the instrument created for +that iniquitous purpose: Prussian militarism. + +There could be a fourth alternative to peace, but it would be possible +only by a miracle which, we can grant without hesitation, the world has +perhaps not yet deserved. + +It would be peace restored by the sudden conversion of Germany to the +practice of sound Christian principles, acknowledging how guilty she has +been, repenting for her crimes, agreeing to atone for them as much as +possible, and taking the unconditional pledge to henceforth behave like +a civilized nation. + +All must admit that there is not the slightest hope of such a move from +a nation whose autocratic Kaiser, answering, in February last, an +address presented to him by the burgomaster of Hamburg, thundered out, +in his usual blasting manner, that the neighbouring peoples, to enjoy +the sweetness of Germany's friendship, "MUST FIRST RECOGNIZE THE VICTORY +OF GERMAN ARMS." + +As an inducement to the Allies to bow to his wishes, he pointed to +Germany's achievement in Russia, where a beaten enemy, "_perceiving no +reason for fighting longer_," clasped hands with the generous Huns. The +world has since learned with appalling horror with what tender mercy the +barbarous Teutons reciprocated the grasping of hands of defeated Russia, +tendered to them by the "bolshevikis" traitors. + +The Allies had then to select one of the three above mentioned +alternatives. + +They have made their choice and they will stick close to it until it is +achieved by the victory of their arms. + +Knowing as they do that the future of their peoples, and that of the +whole world, are at stake, they will not waver in their heroic +determination to free Humanity from Germany's cruel yoke. + +Viewed from the commanding height it requires to be worthily +appreciated, the joint military effort of the Allies offers a truly +grand spectacle, daily enlarging and getting more gloriously +magnificent. + +All the Allies--every one of them--are doing their duty and their +respective share in the great crisis they are pledged to bring to a +triumphant conclusion. + +Belgium and Servia were the first to be martyred, but the hour of their +resurrection is getting nearer every day. + +France, the British Empire, the United States, Italy, have done and are +doing wonders. There can, there must be no question of appraising their +respective merit with the intention of giving more credit either to the +one or to the other. With the greatest possible sincerity, I affirm my +humble, but positive, opinion that each one of the Allies has done and +is doing, with overflowing measure, all that courage could and can +earnestly perform, all that patriotism and the noblest national virtues +can inspire. + +France has been heroic to the highest limit. + +The British Empire--Great Britain and her Colonies--has been grand in +her unswerving determination to fight to a finish. + +The great American Republic is putting forth a wonderful exhibition of +pluck, of strength, of boldness, of inexhaustible resources. + +Italy has stood nobly with her new friends ever since she broke away +from the Triple Alliance, to escape the dishonour of remaining on good +terms with the Central Empires in the shameful depth of their +ignominious course. She has bravely gone through days of disaster which +she has heroically redeemed. + +All the Allies, bound together by the most admirable unity of purpose, +only rivalling in the might of their respective patriotic effort, +having nobly _"chosen their course upon principle,"_ can never turn +back. They must move steadily forward until victorious. They are +indomitable in their decision not to live, under any circumstances, "_in +a world governed by intrigue and force_." + +Echoing the wise and inspiring words addressed by President Wilson to +Congress, on the eleventh of February last, we can affirm that the +"_desire of enlightened men everywhere is for a new international order +under which reason, justice and the common interests of mankind shall +prevail. Without that new order the world will be without peace, and +human life will lack tolerable conditions of existence and +development_." + +A most encouraging achievement was realized, a few months ago, +emphasizing to the utmost the unity of purpose of the Allies. Every one +of them have millions of men under arms and at the front. It is easily +conceived how tremendous is the task of properly directing the military +operations of such immense armies, unprecedented in the whole human +history. Most patriotically putting aside all national susceptibilities, +the statesmen governing the Allied nations acknowledged the necessity of +supporting unity of purpose by unity of military command. Their decision +was heartily approved and applauded by all and every where. + +It is important to note the great difference between the standing of the +two groups of belligerents with regard to the leadership of the armies. +Whilst the Powers dominated by Germany, and fighting with her, are +coerced to endure the Teutonic military supremacy of command, those +warring on the side of France have all most cordially agreed to the +appointment of a Commander-in-Chief out of the profound conviction that +unity of command was more and more becoming a necessity for the +successful prosecution of the war. + +Since this most urgent decision has been taken, events have surely +proved its wisdom and usefulness. Evidently, the same as unity of +purpose, to bear all its fruits, must be wrought out by statesmanship of +a high order, unity of military command, to produce its natural +advantages, must be exercised with superiority of leadership. + +Great statesmen, in a free country, are successful in the management of +State affairs, just as much as they inspire an increasing confidence in +their political genius, developed by a wide experience, honesty of +purpose, a constant patriotic devotion to the public weal. + +Great military leaders can do wonders when their achievements are such +as to create unbounded reliance on their ability. Superiority of +command, proved by victories won in very difficult circumstances, is +always sure to be rewarded by an enlightened enthusiasm permeating the +whole rank and file of an army, and trebling the strength and heroism of +every combatant. + +Added to the widespread renewal of confidence produced by the timely +decision of the Allies to rely on unity of military command, is the +reassuring evidence that the Commander-in-Chief to whom has been imposed +the grand task of leading the unified armies to a final and glorious +triumph, is trusted by all, soldiers and others alike. + +The cause for which the Allied nations are fighting with so much +tenacity and courage being that of the salvation of Civilization, +threatened by a wave of barbarism equal at least to, if not surpassing, +any to which Humanity has so far survived, all must admire the wonderful +spectacle offered by those millions and millions of men, under arms, +from so many different countries, united, under one command, into a +military organization which can most properly be called the GRAND ARMY +OF HUMAN FREEDOM. + +It has been said by one who has presided over the destinies of the +American Republic, as the chief of State, that peace must be dictated +from Berlin. Can we really hope to behold the dawn of such a glorious +day? It is hardly to be supposed that Germany would wait this last +extremity to realize that she must abandon for ever her dream of +universal domination, relieve the world from the enervating menace of +her military terrorism, and redeem her past diabolical course by the +repentant determination to join with her former enemies to deserve for +Mankind long years of perpetual peace with all the Providential +blessings of order, freedom, truly intellectual, moral and material +progress. + +When the Kaiser ordered his hordes to violate Belgium's territory, to +overrun France in order to crush her out of existence as a military and +political Power, preparatory to their triumphant march to St. +Petersburg, in his wild ambition, which he made blasphemous by +pretending that it was divinely inspired, he felt sure that his really +wonderful army, which he believed was, and would remain, matchless, +would in a few weeks enter Paris. + +What a reverse of fortune, what a downfall from extravagant +expectations, would be a return of the tide which, after flowing to the +very gates of Paris, spreading devastation and crimes all over the fair +lands it submerged, would ebb, broken and powerless, to Berlin, +bringing the haughty tyrant to his knees before his victors! + +If such a day of deliverance is Providentially granted the world, having +deserved it by an indomitable courage in resisting oppression, history +would again repeat itself but with a different result. The French +"TRICOLORE" would once more enter proud Berlin, but this time it would +not be alone to be hoisted over the conquered capital of the modern +Huns, scarcely less savage than their forefathers. It would be entwined +with the "UNION JACK" of Great Britain and Ireland, the "STARS AND +STRIPES" of the United States, the Colours of Italy, and, I add with an +inexpressible feeling of loyal and national pride, with the Dominion +Colours so brilliantly glorified by the heroism of our Canadian soldiers +who have proved themselves the equals of the bravest through the +protracted but ever glorious campaign, unfolded with those of Australia +and South Africa into the glorious flag of the British Empire. + +When after the glorious battle of Iena, the great Napoleon, who could +have ruined for ever the rising Prussian monarchy, entered Berlin at the +head of his victorious legions, the new Cæsar, then already the victim +of his unlimited ambition, represented, though issued from a powerful +popular movement, triumphant absolutism. + +In our days, on entering Berlin, as the final act of this wonderful +drama, the entwined Colours of the Allies would symbolize Human Freedom, +delivering Germany herself and the whole world from autocratic rule. + +Such a memorable event taking place, and rank with the most remarkable +in the world's history, the great satisfaction of all those who would +have contributed to its achievement, would be that the joint Colours of +the Allies would not be raised over Germany's capital to crush the +defeated nation under despotic cæsarism, but to deliver her from +autocratic tyrannical rule. Waving with dignity over the great Empire +they would have freed from the thraldom of absolutist militarism, they +could be welcomed as the promise of the renewal, for her as well as for +her victorious rivals, of the reign of Justice, of Christian precepts, +of Right, Order and Peace, of honest and productive Labour, of science +applied to works creative of human happiness instead of diverting the +marvellous resources of the great modern discoveries to criminal uses +for the calamitous misfortune of the peoples. + +I will close this work with the expression of two of the wishes I have +most at heart, cherishing the confident hope that they will be realized. + +England, France and the United States, fighting as they do for the +triumph of such a sacred cause, should emerge indissolubly united from +the great struggle they have pledged themselves to carry to a successful +issue. I cannot conceive that so many millions of their heroic defenders +will have given their lives only for a temporary achievement, soon to be +forgotten. They will be gone for ever. Their sacrifices will be eternal. +They must bear permanent fruits. United in death, buried together in the +soil of France flooded with their blood, from their glorious graves they +will implore their surviving countrymen to remain shoulder to shoulder +in peace as they are in war. Their holocaust should be the holy seed +from which loyal amity ought to grow ever stronger between the future +generations of their countrymen who could not testify in a more eloquent +and noble way their everlasting gratitude for the glorious heritage of +permanent freedom they will have derived from their heroism. + +A most enthusiastic daily witness of the immortal deeds of the millions +of our brothers, sons and friends, fighting with such splendid courage +in the land of my forefathers for our common cause, how often have I, +for the last four years, ardently vowed to God from the very bottom of +my heart, deeply moved by the reports of their noble achievements, that +those who will rest for ever in the ground over which they fell +heroically, may enjoy from above the inspiring spectacle of the union +for the permanent triumph of Liberty and Christian Civilization, of the +great nations for whose grand future they gave their lives! + +I also most earnestly hope that the more fortunate of our defenders who +will return either safe from the fields of battle, or proudly bearing +the glorious wounds which will have crippled their bodies, but not their +hearts, will enjoy from the sanctuary of their homes, made comfortable +by their grateful compatriots, the profound satisfaction to see the holy +union cemented on the thundering firing line perpetuated for the lasting +prosperity and happiness of Mankind. + +The last shadow of the recollections of the feuds of past ages between +England and France should be forever sunk in patriotic oblivion, buried +deep beneath the glory both valorous nations will have jointly reaped in +their mighty efforts to rescue the world from the frightful wave of +barbarism which they will have forced to recede. + +All the well wishers of peaceful and happy days for future generations +are very much gratified at knowing that in joining with the Allies in +the mighty struggle they were carrying with such undaunted courage, the +great American Republic was also inspired by a feeling of gratitude for +France in remembrance of what she has done to help her to achieve her +independence. Let us behold anew the inscrutable designs of Providence. +Nearly a century and a half has elapsed since France, England and her +American Colonies seemed to be for all times irreconcilable opponents. +What a change in Destiny! Years have rolled by. New and unforeseen +conditions have been developed the world over. Gradually two great +currents of thoughts and aspirations have been flowing with increased +strength preparing a formidable clash which was to threaten Civilization +with utter destruction. + +Autocratic ambition was for many long years challenging Political +Liberty to a deadly conflict. At last from the cloudy sky came the flash +of lightning, and the thunderbolt was on the earth shaking it to its +depth by the tremendous shock. + +Germany, having fired the wonderful autocratic shot, fully expected that +her rivals would be thunderstruck beyond possibility of resurrection. +But to her great dismay, the friends of Political Liberty the world over +rallied as one man to its defence. And Germany trembled at seeing +England burying for ever all ill-feelings against France, her ancient +foe, rushing to her support with millions of her brave sons, after +having drawn around her ally the protecting chain of her matchless +fleet. + +Another very discomforting surprise was in store for the cruel Huns. The +American Republic, grateful to France for past services, was also moved +by renovated feelings of affection for the mother-country from whom she +had parted without disowning her. Determined to be at the forefront of +the battle for the triumph of human Freedom--after unsuccessfully +exhausting every means of bringing Germany to her senses--she clasped +hands with England and France and valiantly rallied to their sides to +share the merit and the glory of saving Political Liberty from the +terrible Teutonic onslaught. + +In my humble but sincere and profound opinion, the present spectacle +offered to the world's admiration by the sacred and mighty union of the +British Empire, France and the United States, every patriotic home of +theirs thrilling with undiminished enthusiasm for the success of their +heroic efforts, is a truly grand one inspiring unbounded faith in the +future of Humanity. Let no one forget for a moment that the present war, +certainly NATIONAL so far as the existence of each one of the Allied +States is concerned, is, above all preeminently a world's conflict which +favourable issue deeply concerns the destinies of all the peoples of +the earthly globe. + +The whole question is whether autocratic tyranny will henceforth rule +the world, or if Humanity will yet enjoy the blessings of Liberty, of +free institutions! + +In all hearts must abide the supreme desire that when peace is restored +with all and the only conditions to which they can agree, the British +Empire, France and the American Republic will forever remain united to +promote the prosperity and the welfare of all the nations of the earth, +large, middle-sized or small. The duty of those of Imperialist +proportions will be as hitherto performed by England and the United +States in their democratic way, to protect the independence of the small +States, never aspiring to any territorial acquisitions but those +accruing to them with the full and free consent of the new populations +asking the protection of their ægis and the advantages of their union. + +When I consider the grand and magnificent part the three above named +leading nations can play for the happy future of Humanity, by working +hand in hand, and shoulder to shoulder, for general peace, order and +prosperity, my heart is full with the ardent desire to witness them +accepting that glorious task with the stern determination to +accomplish it to its better end. In spite of the vicissitudes and the +failings of their past, they have done a great deal for the general +good. They can do still more in the future. Like everyman bearing with +fortitude the trials of life with the worthy design of profiting by the +experience thus acquired to elevate himself to a higher conception of +his duty, the British Empire, France and the United States will +undoubtedly emerge from behind the dark clouds of the present days with +aspirations ennobled by the sacrifices they are making, purified by the +sufferings and the holocaust of so many of their own, with a stronger +will to help working out the world's destiny by maintaining permanent +peace and good-will amongst men. If they pursue that dignified course of +high ideals they will fully deserve the admiration and the gratitude of +all those who will benefit by their examples, and reap the abundant +fruits of their devoted and enlightened leadership. + +It is one of the blessings of true Political Liberty, when duly +understood and intelligently practised, to produce a class of +politicians and statesmen of wide experience, of commanding character, +of high culture, of great attainments, with a superior training in the +management of public affairs, who are readily acknowledged as national +leaders by the people who confidently trust them, reserving, of course, +their constitutional right to call new men to office whenever they +consider in the public interest to do so. Those trusted leaders do not +claim, as the German autocratic Kaiser, the power, by Divine Right, to +do anything they please, asserting that in every imaginable case they do +the will of the Almighty. + +When charged with the Government of their country, they understand very +well that their duty is to manage the national affairs under their +responsibility, first, to the Divine Ruler, as any other man in any +other calling; secondly, to those who, having required their services, +have the constitutional right to call them to account for their +stewardship. + +Just as confidence is the basis of sound national credit, trust, on the +part of the people, and responsibility, on that of the national leaders, +are the two cornerstones of free institutions. + +Great Britain,--and her great autonomous Colonies also--for many long +years past, have been most fortunate in the choice of the national +leaders whom they have successively entrusted with the affairs of State. + +In that momentous occurrence, more than four years ago, when the whole +question whether Great Britain would go to war, or not, was laid before +the Imperial Parliament supported by the strongest possible reasons in +favour of the decision to accept the challenge of Germany, and fight +with the firm determination not to sheathe the sword before victory was +won, no British public man would have dared, like the German Emperor, to +claim, by Divine Authority, the right to violate the solemn treaties the +provisions of which his country was in honour and duty bound to carry +out to the very letter. + +The commanding parts national leaders play in a free country, in +consequence of the public confidence they inspire and enjoy, can have +their counterparts in the great society of nations. + +Whatever shall be the final settlement of all the difficult matters +brought up for solution by the war, it is certain that the management of +the world's affairs will be well served by the legitimate influence of +great nations whose leadership will be beneficial just in proportion as +it is itself directed by the true principles of political Freedom, and +an uncompromising respect of the rights of weaker nations always +entitled to the fairest dealings on the part of their stronger +associates in the great commonwealth of Sovereign States. + +There cannot be the slightest doubt that the British Empire, France and +the United States, until Providentially ordered otherwise, will +hereafter be the three leading nations of the world. Their union +maintained sacred in peace, as it is in war, will be the safest +guarantee that the days of autocratic domination have ended. Henceforth +the tide of political Freedom will flow with increased rapidity and +strength. The only danger ahead, against which it is always wise to +provide with due care and foresight, is that which would be the result +of abuse and wild expectations always sure to react in favour of +absolutist principles. Political Liberty and Order, Governmental +Authority and Freedom, both well directed, must work hand in hand for +the national welfare. + +The British Empire, France and the American Republic are free countries. +More and better than any others they should and must, by example and +friendly advice, lead the peoples in the successful practice of +self-government. + +Considering more especially the part the British Empire will be called +upon to play in the reorganized world, freed from autocratic terrorism, +we must not lose sight of the much larger place England's great +autonomous Colonies will occupy in the broadened English Commonwealth. +We, Canadians, together with our brethren from Australia, New Zealand +and South Africa, will have done our glorious share to win the war. We +shall have to perform with equal devotion the new duty of sharing the +British Empire's task in gradually elevating the nations to an +enlightened practice of Political Liberty. + +Evidently to do so with the success this noble cause will deserve, we +must first strive to utilize our admirable free institutions to the best +advantage, for ourselves, for our own future, and for the grand +destinies of our Empire. + +As an instrument of good government our constitutional charter is almost +perfect, as much so as any thing worldly can be. Let us never forget +that the best weapon for self-protection may become useless, or even +dangerous for us, if not handled with the required intelligence, justice +and skill. We would lose all claims to contribute guiding others in the +enjoyment of free institutions if we, ourselves, were mistaken in the +proper working of our own constitution from a misconception of its +literal wording or of its largeness of spirit. We must never challenge +the truth that "spirit giveth life." + +More than ever the supreme difficulties of governing numerous racial +groups, issued from ancient stocks so long divided by endless +feuds,--the result of the many sudden changes of territorial limits to +be wrought by the restoration of peace--will be very hard to settle +satisfactorily. The task will require the constant effort of +statesmanship of a high order. + +Many of those who will hereafter be trained to self-government will look +to us for their guidance. We must give them the inspiring example of +fair play, of justice for all, of unity of purpose and aspirations in +the diversity of ethnical offsprings. + +Need I say that the most urgent duty of all fair minded Canadians is, +and will ever be, to heartily join together, to bless our dear country +with concord, good feeling, harmony and kindly dispositions to grant an +overflowing measure of justice to all our countrymen of all origins and +creeds. + +Writing this book with the express purpose of explaining and strongly +disapproving the deplorable efforts of a few to deter my French Canadian +compatriots from doing their bounden duty through the dire crisis we are +all undergoing, I will close these pages by calling anew upon my English +speaking countrymen not to judge them by the sayings and deeds of +persons who can at times somewhat stir up dangerous prejudices, but who +are utterly incompetent to lead them as they should and deserve to be. +Silenced at last by a patriotic measure to censure any disloyal +expression of sentiments, matters have easily resumed their regular and +honourable course. All loyal citizens, throughout the length and breadth +of the land, have, I am sure, much rejoiced at the loyalty with which +the French Canadians, of all classes, religious, social, commercial, +industrial, financial, agricultural, have united to obey a statute of +military service to which many of them did not agree, as long as they +had the constitutional right to differ from the opinion of the large +majority of our people, but to the successful operation of which they +rallied the moment it was the law of the land. The worthy leaders of our +Church strongly recommended obedience to the decision of the constituted +authority, firmly condemned any guilty attempt at disturbing public +order, and ordered all the members of their flocks to fervously pray the +Almighty for PEACE WITH VICTORY FOR THE ALLIES. + +Our "pacifists at all hazards" once more silenced, this time by the very +religious leaders under whose ægis they had shamefully tried to shield +themselves, the patriotic impulse was moved to most commendable action. +Without waiting for the call of the law, hundreds of young men from the +better classes, from the universities and other educational +institutions, well educated, voluntarily enlisted and rallied to the +Colours. At least as much as in the other provinces, the class of our +young manhood called by law heartily responded, all the real leaders of +public opinion uniting to give the only advice loyal men could express. + +For one, I was most happy to ascertain how favourably western public +feeling was impressed by the new turn of thoughts and events in the +Province of Quebec. The reaction of sentiments operating both ways,--in +Ontario, the western Provinces and Quebec--augurs well for the final +abatement of the excitement which for a time menaced our fair Dominion +with regrettable racial strifes so much to be deprecated. + +It can be positively affirmed that the whole people of Canada, east to +west, north to south, are now more than ever a unit in their patriotic +determination to fight the war to its final victorious issue. To this +end the two millions of French British subjects in Canada, in perfect +communion of thoughts and aspirations with the two millions of the +neighbouring Republic's subjects of French Canadian origin, are loyally +doing, and will continue to do, their share. Their representatives at +the front are gloriously fighting the common enemy. Their valour and +their achievements during the Allies' offensive so masterly planned and +carried out by the Commander-in-Chief, Foch, have been worthy of their +victories at Ypres, Vimy, Courcelette, Passchandaele. Many have, during +the last three months, given their lives for the cause they defend. Many +more have been wounded and are anxiously waiting their cure, when +possible, to return to the field of honour. Daily reports from the +front tell of their enthusiasm, of their bravery, of their heroism! + +The French Canadians--I have no hesitation whatever in vouching for +it--will continue to bear stoically with the sacrifices of so many kinds +the conflict imposes upon them. Though smarting, as all others, under +the burden, yet they cheerfully pay the heavy taxes required from the +country to meet our national obligations the outcome of the war. + +So all is for the best under the strenuous present conditions of our +national existence. + +In closing, I pray leave to reiterate, from the Introduction to this +work, the following lines expressing my most sincere and profound +conviction:-- + +I hope,--and most ardently wish--that all my readers will agree with me +that next to the necessity of winning the war--and may I say, even as of +almost equal importance for the future grandeur of our beloved +country--range that of promoting by all lawful means harmony and good +will amongst all our countrymen, whatever may be their racial origin, +their religious faith, their particular aspirations not conflicting with +their devotion to Canada as a whole, nor with their loyalty to the +British Empire, whose grandeur and prestige they want to firmly help to +uphold with the inspiring confidence that more and more they will be the +unconquerable bulwark of Freedom, Justice, Civilization and Right. + +May I be allowed to conclude by saying that my most earnest desire is to +do all in my power, in the rank and file of the great army of free men, +to reach the goal which ought to be the most persevering and patriotic +ambition of loyal Canadians of all origins and creeds. + +And I repeat, wishing my words to be re-echoed throughout the length and +breadth of the land I so heartily cherish:--I have always been, I am and +will ever be, to my last breath, true to my oath of allegiance to my +Sovereign and to my country. + + + + +APPENDIX--A. + +PRESIDENT WILSON'S SPEECH + +TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS--11TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1918. + + +On the above mentioned date, Mr. Wilson, the President of the great +American Republic, delivered the following speech to the Congress, in +Washington. This noble and statesmanlike utterance met with the +unanimous and enthusiastic approval of the members of both Houses, and +was highly applauded, not only in the United States, but over all the +truly civilized world. It reads thus:-- + + "On the eighth of January, I had the honor of addressing you on + the objects of the war as our people conceive them. The Prime + Minister of Great Britain had spoken in similar terms on the + fifth of January. To these addresses the German Chancellor + replied on the 24th and Count Czernin for Austria on the same + day. It is gratifying to have our desire so promptly realized + that all exchanges of view on this great matter should be made + in the hearing of all the world. + + "Count Czernin's reply, which is directed chiefly to my own + address, on the eighth of January, is uttered in a very friendly + tone. + + "He finds in my statement a sufficiently encouraging approach to + the views of his own government to justify him in believing that + it furnishes a basis for a more detailed discussion of purposes + by the two governments. He is represented to have intimated that + the views he was expressing had been communicated to me + beforehand and that I was aware of them at the time he was + uttering them; but in this I am sure he was misunderstood. I had + received no intimation of what he intended to say. There was, of + course, no reason why he should communicate privately with me. I + am quite content to be one of his public audiences. + + "Count von Hertling's reply is, I may say, very vague and very + confusing. It is full of equivocal phrases and leads, it is not + clear where. But it is certainly in a very different tone from + that of Count Czernin and apparently of an opposite purpose. It + confirms, I am sorry to say, rather than removes, the + unfortunate impression made by what we had learned of the + conferences at Brest-Litovsk. His discussion and acceptance of + our general principles leads him to no practical conclusions. He + refuses to apply them to the substantiate items which must + constitute the body of any final settlement. He is jealous of + international action and of international council. He accepts, + he says, the principle of public diplomacy, but he appears to + insist that it be confined at any rate in this case, to + generalities and that the several particular questions of + territory and sovereignty, the several questions upon whose + settlement must depend the acceptance of peace by the + twenty-three states now engaged in the war, must be discussed + and settled, not in general council but severally by the nations + most immediately concerned by interest of neighbourhood. He + agrees that the seas should be free, but looks askance at any + limitation to that freedom by international action in the + interest of the common order. He would, without reserve, be glad + to see economic barriers removed between nation and nation, for + that could in no way impede the ambitions of the military party + with whom he seems constrained to keep on terms. Neither does he + raise objection to a limitation of armaments. That matter will + be settled of itself, he thinks, by the economic conditions + which must follow the war. But the German colonies, he demands, + must be returned without debate. He will discuss with no one but + the representatives of Russia what disposition shall be made of + the peoples and the lands of the Baltic provinces; with no one + but the Government of France the "conditions" under which French + territory shall be evacuated and only with Austria what shall be + done with Poland. In the determination of all questions + affecting the Balkan states he defers, as I understand him, to + Austria and Turkey and with regard to the agreements to be + entered into concerning the non-Turkish peoples of the present + Ottoman Empire, to the Turkish authorities themselves. After a + settlement all around effected in this fashion, by individual + barter and concession, he would have no objection, if I + correctly interpret his statement, to a league of nations which + would undertake to hold the balance of power steady against + external disturbance. + + "It must be evident to everyone who understands what this war + has wrought in the opinion and temper of the world that no + general peace, no peace worth the infinite sacrifices of these + years of tragical suffering, can possibly be arrived at in any + such fashion. The method the German Chancellor proposes is the + method of the Congress of Vienna. We cannot and will not return + to that. What is at stake now is the peace of the world. What we + are striving for is a new international order based upon broad + and universal principles of right and justice--no mere peace of + shreds and patches. Is it possible that Count von Hertling does + not see that, does not grasp it, is in fact living in his + thought in a world dead and gone? Has he utterly forgotten the + Reichstag resolutions of the 19th of July, or does he + deliberately ignore them? They spoke of the conditions of a + general peace, not of national aggrandizement or of arrangements + between state and state. The peace of the world depends upon + just settlement of each of the several problems to which I + adverted in my recent address to Congress. I, of course, do not + mean that the peace of the world depends upon the acceptance of + any particular set of suggestions as to the way in which those + problems are to be dealt with. I mean only that those problems, + each and all, affect the whole world; that unless they are dealt + with in a spirit of unselfish and unbiassed justice, with a view + to the wishes, the natural connections, the racial aspirations, + the security and peace of mind of the peoples involved, no + permanent peace will have been attained. They cannot be + discussed separately or in corners. None of them constitutes a + private or separate interest from which the opinion of the world + may be shut out. Whatever affects the peace affects mankind, + and nothing settled by military force, if settled wrong, is + settled at all. It will presently have to be re-opened. + + "Is Count von Hertling not aware that he is speaking in the + court of mankind, that all the awakened nations of the world now + sit in judgment on what every public man, of whatever nation, + may say on the issues of a conflict which has spread to every + region of the world? The Reichstag resolutions of July 19 + themselves frankly accepted the decisions of that court. There + shall be no annexations, no contributions, no punitive damages. + Peoples are not to be handed about from one sovereignty to + another by an international conference or an understanding + between rivals and antagonists. National aspirations must be + respected; peoples may now be dominated and governed only by + their own consent. "Self-determination," is not a mere phrase. + It is an imperative principle of action, which statesmen will + henceforth ignore at their peril. We cannot have general peace + for the asking, or by the mere arrangements of a peace + conference. It cannot be pieced together out of individual + understandings between powerful states. All the parties to this + war must join in the settlement of every issue anywhere involved + in it because what we are seeking is a peace that we can all + unite to guarantee and maintain whether it be right and fair, an + act of justice, rather than a bargain between sovereigns. + + "The United States has no desire to interfere in European + affairs or to act as arbiter in European territorial disputes. + We would disdain to take advantage of any internal weakness or + disorder to impose her own will upon another people. She is + quite ready to be shown that the settlements she has suggested + are not the best or the most enduring. They are only her own + provisional sketch of principles, and of the way in which they + should be applied. But she entered this war because she was made + a partner, whether she would or not, in the sufferings and + indignities inflicted by the military masters of Germany, + against the peace and security of mankind; and the conditions of + peace will touch her as nearly as they will touch any other + nation to which is entrusted a leading part in the maintenance + of civilization. She cannot see her way to peace until the + causes of this war are removed, its renewal rendered, as nearly + as may be, impossible. + + "This war had its roots in the disregard of the rights of small + nations and of nationalities which lacked the union and the + force to make good their claim to determine their own + allegiances and their own forms of political life. Covenants + must now be entered into which will render such things + impossible for the future; and those covenants must be backed by + the united force of all the nations that love justice and are + willing to maintain it at any cost. If territorial settlements + and the political relations of great populations which have not + the organized power to resist are to be determined by the + contracts of the powerful governments which consider themselves + most directly affected, as Count von Hertling proposes, why may + not economic questions also? It has come about in the altered + world in which we now find ourselves that justice and the rights + of peoples affect the whole field of international dealing as + much as access to raw materials and fair and equal conditions of + trade. Count von Hertling wants the essential basis of + commercial and industrial life to be safeguarded by common + agreement and guarantee, but he cannot expect that to be + conceded him if the other matters to be determined by the + articles of peace are not handled in the same way as it was in + the final accounting. He cannot ask the benefit of common + agreement in the one field without according it in the other. I + take it for granted that he sees that separate and selfish + compacts with regard to trade and the essential materials of + manufacture would afford no foundation for peace. Neither, he + may rest assured, will separate and selfish compacts with regard + to the provinces and peoples. + + "Count Czernin seems to see the fundamental elements of peace + with clear eyes and does not seek to obscure them. He sees that + an independent Poland, made up of all the indisputably Polish + peoples who lie contiguous to one another, is a matter of + European concern and must of course be conceded; that Belgium + must be evacuated and restored, no matter what sacrifices and + concessions that may involve; and that national aspirations must + be satisfied, even within his own empire, in the common interest + of Europe and mankind. If he is silent about questions which + touch the interest and purpose of his Allies more nearly than + they touch those of Austria only, it must, of course, be because + he feels constrained, I suppose, to defer to Germany and Turkey + in the circumstances. Seeing and conceding, as he does, the + essential principles involved and the necessity of candidly + applying them, he naturally feels that Austria can respond to + the purpose of peace as expressed by the United States with less + embarrassment than could Germany. He would probably have gone + much farther had it not been for the embarrassments of Austria's + alliance and of her dependence upon Germany. + + "After all the test of whether it is possible for either + Government to go any further in this comparison of views is + simple and obvious. The principles to be applied are: + + "First, that each part of the final settlement must be based on + the essential justice of the particular case, and upon such + adjustments as are most likely to bring a peace that will be + permanent. + + "Second, that peoples and provinces are not to be bartered about + from sovereignty to sovereignty as if they were mere chattels + and pawns in a game, even the great game, now for ever + discredited, of the balance of power; but that, + + "Every territorial settlement involved in this war must be made + in the interest and for the benefit of the populations concerned + and not as a part of any mere adjustment of compromise of claims + amongst rival states; and, + + "Fourth, that all well defined national aspirations shall be + accorded the utmost satisfaction that can be accorded them + without introducing new or perpetuating old elements of discord, + and antagonism that would be likely in time to break the peace + of Europe and consequently of the world. + + "A general peace entered upon such foundations can be discussed. + Until such a peace can be secured we have no choice but to go + on. So far as we can judge, these principles that we regard as + fundamental are already everywhere accepted as imperative + except among the spokesmen of the military and annexationist + party in Germany. If they have anywhere else been rejected, the + objectors have not been sufficiently numerous or influential to + make their voices audible. The tragic circumstance is that this + one party in Germany is apparently willing and able to send + millions of men to their death to prevent what all the world now + sees to be just. + + "I would not be a true spokesman of the people of the United + States if I did not say once more that we entered this war upon + no small occasion, and that we can never turn back from a course + chosen upon principle. Our resources are in part mobilized now, + and we shall not pause until they are mobilized in their + entirety. Our armies are rapidly going to the fighting front, + and will go more rapidly. Our whole strength will be put into + this state of emancipation--emancipation from the threat and + attempted mastery of selfish groups of autocratic + rulers--whatever the difficulties and present partial delays. We + are indomitable in our power of independent action, and can in + no circumstances consent to live in a world governed by intrigue + and force. We believe that our own desire for a new + international order under which reason and justice and the + common interests of mankind shall prevail, is the desire of + enlightened men everywhere. Without that new order the world + will be without peace, and human life will lack tolerable + conditions of existence and development. Having set our hand to + the task of achieving it, we shall not turn back. + + "I hope that it is not necessary for me to add that no word of + what I have said is intended as a threat. That is not the + temper of our people. I have spoken thus only that the whole + world may know the true spirit of America--that men everywhere + may know that our passion for justice and for self-government is + no mere passion of words, but a passion which, once set in act, + must be satisfied. The power of the United States is a menace to + no nation or people. It will be never used in aggression or for + the aggrandizement of any selfish interest of our own. It + springs out of freedom and is for the service of freedom." + + + + +APPENDIX--B. + +TEXT OF UNITED STATES REPLY TO AUSTRIA. + + +On the 18th of September, 1918, the Secretary of State made public the +official text of the letter he sent, to Mr. W. A. F. Ekengren, the +Swedish Minister, in charge of Austro-Hungarian affairs, conveying +President Wilson's rejection of the Austrian peace proposals. It reads +as follows:-- + + "Sir,--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note, + dated September 16, communicating to me a note from the Imperial + Government of Austria-Hungary, containing a proposal to the + Government of all the belligerent States to send delegates to a + confidential and unbinding discussion on the basic principles + for the conclusion of peace. Furthermore, it is proposed that + the delegates would be charged to make known to one another the + conception of their Governments regarding these principles, and + to receive analogous communications, as well as to request and + give frank and candid explanations on all those points which + need to be precisely defined. + + "In reply, I beg to say that the substance of your communication + has been submitted to the President, who now directs me to + inform you that the Government of the United States feels that + there is only one reply which it can make to the suggestion of + the Imperial Austro-Hungarian Government. It has repeatedly, and + with entire candor, stated the terms upon which the United + States would consider peace, and can and will entertain no + proposal for a conference upon the matter concerning which it + has made its position and purpose so plain. + + "Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my highest + consideration. + + "(Signed), ROBERT LANSING, + "Secretary of State." + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Numerous obvious spelling errors have been corrected. + +Archaic or unusual words and spellings have not been changed: +beneficient, coronated, consolated, conspiration, devotedness, divers, +elogius, enflame, enounced, equilibrist, eulogium, fervously, +injustifiable, irresistable, instil, Magna Charta, planturous, +plebiscit, plebiscitary, preconized, profonated, Roumanian, Servia, +subtilties, tragical, treasonably, troublous, tutorage, unbiassed, +uncontrovertible, unsufficiently, woful. + +Both "bolshevik" and "bolchevik" appear and have not been changed. + +Both "standpoint(s)" and "stand-point(s)" appear and have not been +changed. + +The following inconsistent usages appear and have not been changed: +"Mother Country", "mother country", "mother-country", "Mother Land", +"Mother land", "mother land", "Motherland". + +Italic font is indicated by _xxx_ and bold font by =xxx=. + +Page 34: Duplicate word "His" deleted (His Excellency had just). + +Page 96 (and elsewhere): "per cent" changed to "per cent." for +consistency. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of England, Canada and the Great War, by +Louis-Georges Desjardins + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLAND, CANADA AND THE GREAT WAR *** + +***** This file should be named 37792-8.txt or 37792-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/9/37792/ + +Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. 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