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may be considered excusable if, upon the approach of
a new year, as enthusiastic Canadian, one who believes
that his country is the brightest and best on earth,
should indulge in a little flaunting of the maple leaf.
The time is propitious. Upon the verge of one of those
time divisions which serve as mile stones of our progress,
we may well pause for a moment, not so much to look
back at what we have passed, as to glance forward at
what is to come. We have, during the past few years,
heard much of blame at the slowness of our national
development from those who expect a nation to spring
forth fully armed like Minerva from the head of Jupiter.
Our progress has been, if slow, at least appreciable;
to be remarked chiefly, perhaps, in the growth of interest
which Canadians begin to feel in their own affairs and
in their position amongst the nations of the earth.
This is cheering, for, in national as well as in individual
life, all strength and power must come from within.
To become worthy to share in the commerce of the earth
we must show a commercial spirit equal to our opportunities.
And how boundless these opportunities are I need not
state; the wealth and productiveness of this land cannot
be surpassed by any on the face of the earth. We are
often confronted by the statement that the geographical
position of our provinces makes it impossible that any
vigorous national life can exist, and the failure of
our Dominion is prophesied because the success of some
country similarly situated cannot be cited to cheer
us in our difficult task. But do not doubt; we will
serve as the example to the world of a people welded
by a national spirit and a national love, although separated
by natural barriers. When we have surmounted these difficulties
it will be wondered why we considered them as blocking
for ever the road to prosperity. The racial differences
which now seem so definite will in the natural course
of events disappear. What we as Canadians need more
than anything else is a firm faith in our country and
in her ultimate destiny. It is not necessary to imagine
that our Dominion must stand or fall by her present
constitution. If in the course of time this proves,
by reason of events which have not yet presented themselves,
to be unworkable we will have secured experience and
wisdom sufficient to change our form of government without
resorting to the shameful refuge in national disgrace
and annihilation. In the life of every people there
are years of danger which have to be lived through with
hope in the strength and vitality of those principles
upon which its security and permanence is founded; and
why should Canada abandon at the first difficulty, or
at any difficulty, her hope of national unity. In the
young men of this country there is growing a sentiment
which will sweep any thought of Canadian disgrace of
humiliation into the limbo of forgotten and despicable
things. This cause, the cause of the Canadian nation,
may be assisted by every one; in this sentiment and
in these objects every Canadian can have a part; and
to all those throughout the breadth of this land who
can throw up their caps and give a shout for Canada
I wish a hearty and a happy new year.
S.
As
the present year draws to a close and the new year approaches
with the undreamed-of future, which holds for all joy
and sorrow, triumph and failure, more or less, it is
a good thing for us to take a glance at our conditions,
and ask ourselves if we are fairly satisfied at the
appearance of things in general. If there is one thing
I detest, it is a tendency to self-deception and to
avoid grim realities. Now, this is the season of the
year when we should especially examine into our conditions
and see how the world stands in relationship to its
best ideals, if it has any. As the result of a cursory
glance at the past year's history, there is one conclusion
we will all come to, and that is that in all countries
public affairs as regards their management are getting
more complicated as the years go on, and that government
by the few is not such an unqualified success after
all. The problem of nation-building has come into startling
prominence in connection with our affairs during this
year, and, as viewed from a political as well as from
a patriotic standpoint, presents some conditions for
our gravest consideration. If we are ever to be a people
like the other nations, we must not refuse to meet those
difficulties fair in the face, and not shirk our responsibilities.
There is no
getting over the fact that we are unfortunately placed,
both in time and locality, for the fostering of a national
spirit and growth. We have probably more obstacles of
an internal nature to overcome than any nation under
the sun that ever tried to realise a national unity
and independence. In any part of the civilised world
it would be harder to accomplish such results than it
was a quarter of a century ago. But it is especially
difficult here in Canada. In the old days the national
prejudice was strong in men. Now it is rather the other
way, as the average man rather likes the novelty of
a foreign environment if he can do better, and especially
when there is no barrier in customs are broken down.
I speak here as a Canadian and one who loves his country,
but who loves her too well to bury the dangers to her
progress, that all true Canadians only see too well,
in cowardly evasions for the sake of creating a false
hope. Canada cannot afford to-day to fall back on false
sentiments, and on an attempt to force a patriotism
that might have carried some old-time nation over similar
difficulties. The prodding with the goad that would
have made the national dray-horse pull harder in the
ruts in days past would now likely cause him to jump
the patriotic traces. Men think and compare more than
they used to, and politicians especially must remember
that they have been for years and years past perhaps
over-educating the average voter up to a strong sense
of his own individual rights, and they must not be surprised
if in a national crisis the mine they have been laying
explodes under their own feet. If the people to-day
are hard to please and difficult to lash or coax into
the patriotic contentment and soberness, the politicians
should be the last to complain. I will dare to say,
apart from all party considerations, that we as a people
have been largely sacrificed to ultra-party considerations.
Party government is evidently necessary, but it must
never usurp and eclipse the national feeling. When it
does the result is a condition of things such as we
have in Canada to-day, the grave difference in our case
being that party spirit has prevented the growth of
this sentiment instead of merely hampering it. All men
who know our national life to-day know that the country
is in imminent danger on account of race and religious
feuds, and that the most strenuous steps should be taken
to canvass the whole Dominion on this matter. The greatest
danger to the country lies in trying to smother as inimical
what is but the natural expression of this stage of
our development. The most unpatriotic course is that
which would leave the whole matter to politicians, who
are involved in party considerations that obstruct the
smooth path of an unbiased patriotism. What is essentially
needed is a sentiment that will sweep like a baptismal
wave from ocean to ocean and overpower all local, racial
and other influences—not that these need necessarily
to be swept out, but which will keep them in the place
where they belong in the community. Whatsoever influence
is working to this end is loyal and is keeping with
the true spirit of our growth toward the ideal nation.
What I would ask all true Canadians to-day is, are such
elements at work? and are our feelings as a nation overcoming
mere provincial and racial prejudices? That is the grave
question to propound just now. Are we Canadians even
a little more in national sentiment than in the days
of confederation? What we are in most danger of at present
is not so much an open expression toward annexation,
but a pseudo-patriotism that for mere self-interest
would muzzle the true expression of the national thought
at this most critical point of our country's development.
C.
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