_I -_ 1-,__
. -
l
?
‘r_
_ THE wllll _
‘ Delivered to His Former Constituents in -
”spared, and during the past three wc_ek_s I have approached _succes-
'ro run accciiiPLiii~iusur_ _or rum* i>v_ai>osn.
Hou. nun!-| __ou'ri-lrus. . non. A.°i..e|r1'oN, A,
'. OOllQ“Ul'\_'°,§”_‘l'll\ 'l '_: _nlnlm
cm|AnA's mmf Kin
Shall Canadian Army he Supported i or Desertedl I
Sir Robert Borden s Stirrlng Patriotic Speech
~ Halifax--Cariiy on or Quit - _
In the fade of the autocratic military aggression which now
seeks to dominate the world no Nation can endure unless itspeo- ple are prepared-to fight in its defence. Under the Military Service Act the highest duty of citizenship is demanded of the people- I 3111 entirely confident that they will not shrink from that duty- It is said that this law ought not to be put into operation without a f'refereiidum.” Such is the policy put for- ward in opposition to that of the Government. I consider it my Imperative duty to put the Act into force IMMEDIATELY.`
;l__`.listdcourso is being pursued and it will be unhesitatlngly con- _
ue . ' ' -
_ e ar -u 1- i. _ -i-
WHAT IS THE SITUATION? The need for reinforce-
ments is INSISTENT, COMPELLING, IMPERATIVE. Do WE" fully appreciate the meaning and effect of what is taking place in Russia -and in Italy? There never was greater necessity to summon our stemest resolve and to gird on our fullest
strength. _In the British Islands and especially in-Fra ce they are_much in advance of .us in the or anizatioii and ut' zation of the Nation’s human energy. THE 'IEERRIB LE N EE for rein
forcements can _be met. But even with THE BES that can be made we shall barely be in tirne._ YET, it is seriously proposed that -with Canadian divisions DEPLETED at the front --and remember that a division when thuԤ deple__tcd ceases to be an effective fighting unit "until reinforced-it is proposed that,- with divisions depleted at the front, we are to" WAIT until Par- liament is summoned, until a Bill for a "referendum" .is passed and until the _referendum shall have been held and the-verdict-of people pronounced! ' 1 .
_ , ir in nr 4- _ -ii is ' '
How many men could be brought into military service by,
means of'a"i"eferc'ndun1 withirx`"ONE_"YEAR frdih today? Parii' liament stands adjourned to the 28th of February because the election returns will not be available until the 27th of February.‘: Probably the session could not begin before the middle of March. The passage of the iieccssary legislation for a referendum might _ take and doubtless would take at least two months. To hold the ‘ referendum election and obtain the verdict of the people would require two or three additional months. ` _ _
IN 'l`I°l_E_»_MEAN'1`I1\-I}?. the Military Service Act would be
Suspended. -_THE SPIRIT or OUR --MEN woULp -BE
BROKEN as "their ranks become mor! .and more depleted. _
'I HEY ASK for reinforcements and YOU GIVE them a "refer- enduml” All military activity would, be at an end and perhaps the war itself would have come to a conclusion with results DISASTROUS to our country- This is a war in which the last hundred thousand men may mean VICTORY, the lack of them DEFEAT. Make no mistal-_ie about it! The proposal for a re- ferendum lias but ONE nicanin . It means that the Canadian forces at the front shall be LEl~g'.l` _TO THEIR FATE, without support and without reinforcements. Whether that be the PUR- POSE is immaterial; that beyond question will be the RESULT. It would be hailed with rcat joy _and not I little mirth by the German Higher Command. Can we doubt that if any effort on
their _part _can bring about such a consnmniation,._it will not be
,-
spare.
e -'v in ii- *_ _*
OUT OF THE MOMENTOUS EVENTS OF THE
YEAR NOW DRAWING TO A CLOSE HAS ARISEN THE UNION QQVERNMENT, WHICH APPEA§S T0 THE ELECTORATE TO UPHOLD ITS HAN S IN THIS TERRIBLE STRUGGLE. _
Upon all the incidents which lead to the formation of _tliat
povernment I need not dwell. Its members have corne_ together rom both political parties in a very earnest -spirit and with an in- tense desire to perform their duty to the country in the h_'our of its most urgentrieed; The enforcement of military service ought not to be carriedon b' a party government, if that course can possibly be avoided. NVhcn the war reached so critical a period it became more important that a government should be_forme_d thoroughly re resentative of every element in the population pre- pared to _SUPTORT Canada's utmost _efforts I have never devi-. ated from that purpose since I formed it in May last. -
-ie nv #_ * * * \ In this -or in any other country an alliance ofparties 'in a
Union or National government is hardly possible until it becomes practically inevitable. Even in this g\'¢2~t_¢m¢\’B_¢UCY fhff t&Sl< has been a most difficult one, involving wearisome and protracted negotiation, resulting at times in serious discouragement, and _rc- quiring an almost INFINITEPATIENCE- It was -my desire,
and IT STILL IS *AY FIRM INTENTION. THAT .BOTH POLITICAL PAR IES SHALL HAVE EQUAL REPR_E- sENTAT10N IN 'rl-1-E GOVERNMENT. outsideof the office Of Prime Minister. My effort for that purpose has not been
sively three Canadians of French origin and of iberai affiliation, with the request that one of them s ould ente_r_the,(-_T-overnment. I d _ _ . hthem be`cause,my effort was'u_nsuccessf_ul;'but
o not re rose _ _ _ _
I do most dincerely regret their d¢Cl_ll0\'l-_ F01' "15 »°.*?“¢°°|“9“_C°_*l
THEY are responsible. not I; ___' __~ _ *_
so isARNas'rLv mn t nmsinie iiie`_f2.f...auo.. of in .ta-.
ministration with the broadest oesible basis of rpproeentation,
nn a.sirr°.r1LLiii.n na.txr..aersi
-I - ' in ii-I i. i. -
, . -» . i o _ ?.’:f.‘:..‘:i‘t,§;.;“2::.1'i ‘.*z.i.°::t ,..__._j;._ "d"'mm“'“°w°"hy dm-iiti-istrttlieu lit. _ IN'.'I‘HEVAWFU¢I-
by Imyoeridesloran r DAY CHOUIJD 'IYHE POLIT CAL FUTURE OF ANY
’ ' ' CAL F , TU C'.°F_AN._Y
i»'l‘ii‘i'ii:'i¥i§'ri?§oriiie'iiEli'iiS”ili5nr'n'9:'ici§_iins.me fre r4n°s~'.frrt rev... » i .
é___T
' .SIR WILFRID
1...-.ir-upto-~ '
party which made mi: its leader more than sixteen years ago. IJ
lta.v_c`-bet‘.n_ told that a Conservativc‘.vic'tory_was certain, and that
I was surrendcrin theffortunes of an historic party to my desire.
for the accomplishment of an impossibl'c purpose. ` i I did not pause toiconsider the prospects of a _‘_‘party" victory. ITS AB- SOLUTE CERTAINTY W01rT_T\ N01* u'\_V"’ "'»'-""""""-'_-7 THE--"HIGHE-R~=PURPOSE WHICH I HAD AT HEART, to 'give representation in the Gov_'er_nment _to all ele;i;ientS`_pf our population that strove to maintain the Na-tional 'cn_dc_'avor in this
._ ,#5 it -iv »r_~ ii-~ =i=~ 7
'Those of my colleagues who have recently joined the Gov-
ernment have played a worthy part. ' I know that they have yielded only to a sense of supreme duty. Doubtless they feel keenly the breaking of old ties and the dissolution of- long stand- ing and valued associations. All this means m,uch to any man with a long public service behind him; but THEY HAVE THE coNscroUsNEss OF A GREAT DUTY NoBLYi FoL~ FILLED AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT A HIGHER AND MORE .NOTABLE SERVICE TO THE _COUNTRY LIES BEFORE THEM. That they could not withhold themselves when Canada called them is their highest and complete justifica- tion- And remember that there are able men iii' the Liberal- Conservative party with long public_service behind them, and with very legitimate aspiration for promotion, who without hesi- tation, have stood aside in order that Union might be consum-
mated.
e in ii- -if . »< -»- _
\
I appeal to you all of whatever party, _and especially to those
of the party with which I have been _associat<;d, to PONDER WELL upon these eventsyand to put tside every old antagonism and controversy; to unite in earnest, vigorous effort; to stand FOR TI-IE COUNTRY and not for partizanship. PARTY ANTRGONISM, when riot' based on principle, is a sorryspec- tacle at any time. IN TH_ESE AWFUL DAYS JT IS LITTLE LESS THAN A CRIME. \Ve have a great task before us. The eyes of the world are upon Canada in this crisis. Let us rcniein- ber the words of the Apostle: i `
is 1- io- is ir -it
._ "Wherefor seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us LAY ASIDE EVERY ‘WEIGHT and the-sin which doth so easily beset us, 'and let
us run with patience the race that is set before us." ' What weight are we to lay aside in this race? The weight
of party antagonism. What is the sin that doth so easily beset us? The discord and suspicion so likely to arise from such 'an- tagonism. And how shall we understand the patience upon which th`e"Apostle dwells? The primary meaning _of the word is-the quality of suffering or enduring. And so we may read from the Apostles’ _words the lesson that until there shall come to us Victory crowned with abiding peace, we shall suffer-=but we MUST endure.
` ik IF #1 it *I il '
Q The policies of the Government have been set forth in two
messages already" addressed to the Canadian people. 'I`o night it is not in my heart to dwell upon them, for T E MESSAGE WHICH I MUST GIVE YOU IS THE OVER-MASTERING NECESSITY OF SUSTAINING THE MEN WHO HQLD CANADA'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE on the western front. They have gone forth voluntarily in the _flower of,their youth, to undertake this dut which-daily calls them to bivoua-:with death.
THE SOUL OF NRANCE ANg _BELGIUM IS HALLOWED BY THE ORAVES' OF OUR D AD. If the task to which these
"e at d their l"es in the last sacrifice remains unacconi’
co_nscr_c ._ iv _ .. __ __ plished, shall we not stand silent, ashamedand humiliated _before
tho_se'_who retu_rr_1?_ _'_ “ _ _ - __.
.. ‘Not from the living alone. but from the fallen also. comesto
Canada, their beloved and.b_e_n_ign mother, the call for aid. i Tl1eir_
appeal,whethe'r from the `quick .or the dead, tells you more elo~ q_u`ently_than any words of mime, _that _there is presently but 'ONE issue, ONE SUPREME. ISSUE, before the Canadian google. Shall the Canadian' Army`_Corps- at the front be SUPPO T D OR DESERTEDP Such is the issue- I speak with all the earn- estness of the most intense conviction--I speak as one upon whom
very heavy and trying respoiisibilities have been imposed during
t ree -that would gladly have been
from thc trenches. THE ". - ' pon-EAC
It rests u H of
be so as to
on man a Canada' _has relentless'
to bring tb -
"7AN`D THE C.N.'R.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has attacked the go;-r>posa1_res{:;;~>;:ting the Canadian
Northern Railway, and I shalldeal vert*-X; tilefly with ' objection. In the filnti lace, he is primarily responsib1e~foi€._t;Iie policy, and for the conditions ~ 'whicii made action inevitable _if that roilwp,y and the Grand Trunk Pacific sreio be mann-aimed as important systems -of transportation. and not allowed. to-lapse into the disorgs.rtiza,tiofn_’,yv`li1oh would be created by their
_ He announced with a flourish of i.l?¥Ul¥1Ilets in 1904 the Grand Trunk Pacific policy and later he placed the Canadian Northern upon the same basis as ei national undertaking. The Government formed in 1911 in- .herited the conditionsfcreated by that policy. We had to deal with-the ‘Situation as best we could. When we proposed the loan to the Canadian Northern in 1914, Sir Wilfrid Laurier; -moved a resolution declaring that the Government ought to' acquire all the stock of the Canadian Northern ` Railway by arbiti_-'ation,~ an'd*that a maximum value of thirty million dollars should be fixed. -In 1914, the Government, as then constituted, acquired forty millions of _C.N._Rj. stock without any payment whatever, and we now propose to acquire the balance by arbitration. That is precisely the method Sir Wilfrid ‘Laurier himself suggested. It . does not lie in his mouth to say that the _course which he solemnly proposed only three years ago by resolution in-parliament isan unwise course. There is, however, one marked distinction which the people should tho- roughly realize between his proposal and cure. - He fixed the maximum
paice to -be paid for the stock at TH-IBTY MILLION DOLLARS.
e fixed the maximum price er '1‘-_EN -MILLIONS DOLLARS or
ju‘t one-third of the amount whichghe thought reasonable. In at-
- 'tasking or condemning the_`G-ovcrnment, he still more strongly attacks and - condemns himself. ' _
HON-_.Op O. MEWBURN, __ HON- T. A. ORERAR, HON. N- W. HOWELL, ‘ Minister of Militia. Mlnllter of Agriculture. President Of U\e"Fr|vy
- » Council. _
_ "1
.
Will the Women Desert Their Men Folk?
As the soldiers at the front have-
chosen to act for all Canada in a
post of supreme honor and tenuous. slbllity, so their women relatives at home-have' been chosen to act for all the women of Canada ln an act ot su preme honor and responsibility. They are the first Canadian women to be asked to exercise the franchise in a Federal electlbn. As their sons.
brothers and husbands at the front bear the burden ot proving the valor and stesdfastuess ot Canadian men. so they must bear the burden of
proving the capacita and intelligent pstrlo sm of Csnad n women.
The worthiness of our women to
enjoy the franchise will be largely judged .by the manner in which this chosen group of women use lt.. It they employ it to further the best Interests of the nation. to loyally support their msn-folk under fire
and to help on the winning ofthe war, then the general belle will be that women as a whole can be safely trusted with the ballot, even at the most tremendous crisis that cln af- fect a natlon’s destiny. But lt these pioneers should fall--it they should not show n proper appreciation ot the awful issues at stake- lr they should be deluded by some weird wizardry into desertlng their men in the trenches, then the cause
of women surrraga would be put back ii black half-een ry.
But lt is impossible to believe that
this can happen. These women. to whbin ls entrusted at this critical time the sacred chalice 0'! the woman’s cause. are close and he- lovod relatives of the men who have stepped forward gladlymnd without compulsion to servo the kindred causes of liberty, democracy and 'free government, under conditions whore pain is s commonplace and death but an accident. The beloved of such men cannot falter ln the face of duty. '1'hey` cannot shame the heroes whose names they bear-- wliose honor they hold ln '-_\‘\Ii¢- Surely the cause of woman could not be laid upon better shoulders nor left to braver hearts.
This is especially true when the
test that la to be applied to their proper exercise of the franchise. will be the simple and appealing ons-
_“Will they vote to send heb and
suocoyur to their 'own menfolk at the fi' " '
ont, Surely the woman will be hard
to (Ind :who will desert her husband. father or brother, who is risking his life to ensure her safety. While he la in the very act of facing a deadly enemy whose bi-utalitles to women- cr'y to Heaven, his women are called upon to vote` upon whether or not reinforcements are to be sent to sup- portaiid relieve hlmu There cannot be' a moment's doubt as to how they ‘win vote. smiiaers waht be 111- dtrterent to his sufferings. his dan- ers or his tate. liutllmrdsly not his very ovm. 'It his loved ones ln his own home--a home he has prob- sbly made and is now defend nl- eaniioi as trusted to -io all they wi to sand assistance and sirbcour htm from deadly danger. who else will do
lit
It there is a
V -'I' _I _is-Luton _
town ulitluts Ant l ron union
Strong Men- Repudiate Laurier’s f
` Stand '
'Most of His Ablest Supporters Forced by
Patriotic Conviction to .loin Union
Government to Win the War _
" The nine Liberals who have joined Sir Robert Borden ill llte Union
Govemment are all from the most representative and progressive wing of the Liberal party in Canada. 'lhey are, in fact, the strong men of die party, both in Eastem and Wesum Canada. and their spontaneous coming
forward to help give the nation united leaclership, when announced gafsir Robert Borden in O er of this year, came as an inspiration to die a- dian public. _ ,
Of those w are not actual members of the Union Government.
it may be said t every provincial Premier in Canada is an eiilhuaiastlx: supporter of the new_aclniinistra|.ion. Indeed, Premier G. H. Murray of Nova Scotia, where politics is taken very seriously. would be s. munbd of the Government but for the desire of his Nova Scotia colleagues to have him at home. '
The strong Liberals in the Union Government include: ' Hon. T. A. Crerar, Minister of Agriculture. When called upon by
Sir Robert Bord. he was Praiclent of the Grain Growers' Grain Company and a recognized power in the development of Western Canada Mr. Crérar has no mere provincial vision but stands for Canadian progress, East and West. _ _
Hon. F. B. Carvell, Minister of Public Works. made his great
reputation as a fearless and exacting Parliamentary critic.
Hon. C. C. Ballantyne, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. is an
acquisition from the noted business leaders of the Metropolis of Canada. Montreal. Mr. Ballantyne rendered national services as a member of the Montreal Harbor Commission for n number of years. He possesses unique technical knowledge of inestimable value in his' department and will be a progressive minister. ' _
Hon. N. W. Rowell, K.C-. has been for several years leader of the
Liberal party in Ontario. during which time he has been in demand as a speaker in all parts of Canada and the United States. A msn of broad vision ands "progressive" in every sense of the word, Mr. Rowell will be a power in the national life. _ f ‘ » Hon. Hugli_Gutl'irie, Solicitor-General, represents in Parliament the constituency which his father. also a Liberal. Donald Guthrie, formerly represented. Mr. Guthrie is a man of splendid training and has -been for years one of the most respected and admired figures at Ottawa. He it is
who began the Canadian movement for technical education and industrial training of the young in city and country. _
Hon. A. L. Sifton, Minister of Customs. resigned as Liberal
Premier of Alberts to come to Ottawa. ‘Since l9l0, he had occupied that honorable office with strength amongst the people increasing year by year. He is a genuine Weslemer. having grown up with the developments from the early days. when he was active in the administration of the Norlli- west Territories. _
General S. Mewburn. Minister of Militia, has had a long military
career. having joined the army at an early age as ii private soldier. He has seeii_active service. and. since war began. has served with distinction in the mlliha organization, helping to train Canadian soldiers.
Hon. A. Calder. Minister of lmmigrstion and Colonization, was
formerly Minister of Railways in the Government of Sasltatchewau. He began adult life as a school teacher. but soon became ii prominent figure in. Wateni politics and is today a recognized power. _ Hon. K. Maclean, Minister without Portfolio, is the iioleel financial critic of the Liberal party who. at the last election. was an opponent _of Premier Borden at Halifax. running ahead of the Premici's Conservative colleague in the Halifax contest. Mr. Maclean has the confidence of people of Nova Scotia, having won success in both provincial and federal politics in the East. ._
The Liberal lenders who have joined the Union C-overnment have
made a great sacryfice. They must brave the anger of their partisan followers until they have proved the sincerity of their attitude so com- pletely that even partisans can understand. Even so. they must give up lifelong friendships and allegiances, parting with a leader whose ability to win the hearts of his followers is undeniable.
lt is plain, therefore. that only the strongest conviction that Sin
Robert Boi'clen's policy is right and .the Laurier policy wrong moved them lo act as they have done. _ _ The same compelling facts that inspired their patriotic action make similar appeal to _every patriotic citizen. .
lr ._----v-i
THE NA'll0NAl.lSTS AND THE UNION
i_,~_.__.._...___
/ . ,
Statement of Prime Minister Repudiating
Connection or Collusion With
_Bourasaa Party _ _
(Hom Hansard. August 16.) - --
' Right l-lon. Sir Robert Borden: Mr. Speaker, My ' attention has been drawn to the statement that the Nation-
- alist party of the province of Quebec is about to put candi- ' dates in the field'_on its own behalf against Liberal and
Conservative candiqtes. and l urn told the suggestion is being made that there is some collusion between the Nation- alist party of the province of Quebec and my Government . or the friends of my Government in regard to this campaign of the Nationalist party. The suggestion is also made that because the friends ofthe present Government and the Nationalist party both opposed Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the I . election of |911 that there is now some connection or collu- sion and that mysupportcrs and friends are in fact encouii- aging the Nationalist party' of Quebec in the course which
they are adopting. »
I _desire to make a most emphatic, unreserved, and com-
prehensive denial of this statement. There is not and never will be any connection or collusion whalever between my friends and supporters and those of the Nationalist party of
Quebec. _
I regardthe attitude of the Nationalist party of 'Quebec
in this _war as unpntriotie, and I consider that it is the first duty of myself and my friends to assist in defeating that party and to prevent lt. so far as we AN able. from being in
s position to exercise any pollticnl peels! in Canada.
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