HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1917-12-6, Page 11•toy :::n lee le.e ; .. ,..Ps .ai _
• *101,444 "%13t;r
HON. HUGH GUTHRIE.,
Solicitor -General.
HON. A. L, SIFTON,
Minister of Customs.
'HON. J. A. CALDER,
Ir niihration and Cofonixa.,
tiob.
Shall Canadian Army
e Supported
or" Deserted?
Sir Robert Borden's Stirring Patriotic Speech
Delivered to His Former Constituents in..
Halifax --Carry on or Quit
iia,tbe face of the'atttecratic military aggression -which now
seeks to dominate the.world' no Nation can endure
le ares` unless its neo-
pprepared to fight in its'' defence.- Under the Military
T ServiceAct the, hi est duty d of citizenship is demanded of.the
peoplea ` I entirely confident that t they will not shrink from
that duty.` It is. said that this law ought not to be'ut into
operation`' without a "referendum.” Such is the policy put f r
inWard ' opposition to that of the Government. I consider' it Thy
imperative duty to put the Act into force ' IMMEDIATELY.
That course is being pursued and it will be unhesitatingly con-
tinued.
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 sternest resolve and to gird on our fullest
strength. In the British Islands and especially in France they
are much in advance of us in the organization and utilization of
the Nation's human energy. THE TERRIBLE NEED for rein-
forcenients can be met:.;.,. Butz,evenr.with=THE• BEST' SPEED
that can be made we shall barely be in time.: YET, it is seriously
proposed that with Canadian divisions DEPLETED at the front
and remember that a division when thusdepleted 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! '
* o. How 'many lien could'- befoiighttits'iltta
service 'by
means of a referendum within ` ONE YEARfrom today?
.-
liament stands, adjourned to the 28th• of February becausePar-
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 necessary legislation for a referendum might
take and doubtless would take at least two months. To hold the
referendums election and obtain the verdict of the peowould
require two or three additional months.,
IN N TI
�E MEA
N �`
.. , IMS rtli�., l:ll;:i ax . •
..� .. �.. t .�5. .ice
suspended. : THE +: r X civ Act would be
p I E SPIRIT OF OUR ' MEN WOULD BE
BROKEN as their ranks become more and mci.re depleted.
' THEY ASK for reinforcements and YOUGIVE P
them a �`-`refer
l endum hA ''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 inaymean VICTORY
DEFE . the lack of -them
AT, , Make no mistake about it! The proposals for a re -
,?rend im has but ONE °meanie . - "It idea.
,.� . ,:.g .._ , ,,. ns ;that the Canadian
ibrces. at` the•front shall be LETT• TO TTIEIR FATE, without.
support and without reinforcements.- Whether that be the -PUB-
POSE is immaterial; that beyond uestion will be thei
Y q RESULT.
It would be hailed with great joy and not a little mirth by the
German Higher Command. Can we : doubt that if any effort on
their part can bring about such `a consummation, it will not be
spared.
* * (c *
OUT OF THE MOMENTOUS EVENTS OF THE
YEAR NOW ,'DRAWIN TO -AA :CLOSE
GOVERNMENT,
rT .:.,,. „ ....... ... :. HAS ARISEN.
THE UNION GOVERNMENT,,WHICH> APPEALS TO
THE ELECTORATE ,,TO UPHOLD ITS HANDS IN
THIS TERRIBLE STRUGCi E.•.
Upon `all the incidents which lead to the formation of that
government I need not dwell. Its fnembers have come together
from bothpolitical parties" in a y earnests spirit with P : very p_ t and `wi;an in-
tense desire to perform their duty to the country in the hour of its
most urgent need. The enforcement of military ought
ilitar service ght
not to be carried on by, a party :government, if"that course can
possibly be avoided.. Where the. war, reached so critical a period
it became rnoreoiniportant° that a government`: should' be formed
thoroughly representative of every element in ,the population pre-
pared to SUPPORT' Canada's utmost effort. I have never devj-
a, ated'from that:, urpose since I' formed it in.Maylast.
'
In this 'or ,in any • other country an alliance' of parties in a
Union or National government ss hardly possible until it becomes
practically inevitable: .Evein in;"• thYS . great ,eni eraen_..cy
the task
has been a most difficult"one, Involving wearisome and protracted
negotiation, resulting at times in serious'discouragensent, and,Te-
uiringan almost INFINITE PATIENCE. It•
q bwas try . desire,
and IT STILL IS MY FIRM INTENTION, THAT `BOTH
POLITICAL.`' PARTIES SHALL HAVE EQUAL REPRE..
N IN THE' GOVERNMENT, MENT, outside of the office
of P rune Minister. •My effort for that purpose
uxp
ose las not been
spared, and during the past three weeks,I haveapproached succes-
sively three
ucces-
sivelythree CanadiansbFrcrich"origin and of Liberal affiliation,
st that one of the
with the roque m should enter the Goverificnt.
reproach them. because effort
I do.not i epro 1 c my was .unsuccessful; but
e t their decision. ;�, t
Ido most sincerely r ,gra th r d c sion For itsconsequences
THEY are responsible, not L
HON. PRANK CARVELL HON. A. K. MacLEAN, HON C, 13A1 LAN7YNE.
Minister of Marine, an'd HON. &. C. MEWBURN, HON. T. A. CRERAR
'Minister of Public Works. Without Portfolio. Fisheries and 'Naval r
f Minister aF iVliiitia. IVIitti>9t¢sr of Agrloul#urs,
• •
Service
SIR WILFRID LAURIEZASD 'HE C.N.R.
;Sir Wilfrid Laurier has attacked the proposal respecting the Canadian
NorthernRailway, and I shall deal very briefly withhis objection. In the
first place, he is primarily responsible'for the policy, and for the conditions
which made action inevitable if that railway and the Grand Trunk' Pacific
are to , be rnaintain.e i as important systems of transportation, and not
allowed' to lapsetinto the disorganizationwhich would be created by their
bankruptcy„
e announced with*a; flourish of trumpets, in 19
p �4 the Grand. Trunk
Pacific policy and later he placed the Canadian Northern upon the sane
basis as a national undertaking. The Government formed in 1911 in-
herited the conditions created 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 ed a resolution declaring
thatthe to' acquire ought „... t v, • �;ll� the stock of the � Canadian
Northern' Railway = by arbitration, and that a maxim m
_ 11 value ®f
thirty Million dollars should be fixed: In 1914, the Government, as then
constituted, acquired forty millions of C.N.R. stock. without any a payment
whatever and we now Yn?
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 parliarnent is . an:. unwise. course.
There '"is, : however, oiie marked distinction which: the people should tho-
roughly realize between his proposal and cure. He fixed the maximum
price to be paid for the stock at THIRTY MILLION . DOLLARS.
We fixed the maximum; price at TEN MILLIONS DOLLARS or
just one-third of the amount which he, thought reasonable. Inat-
tacking or condemning the Government, he still more strongly attacks and
condemns himself.
party which` grade me its leader more than sixteen years ago. I
have been told that a Conservative victory was certain; and that
I was surrendering the fortunes of an historic party to my desire
fora the accomplishment of an impossible purpose. I; did not
pause to consider "the prospects of a "party" victory: ITS• AB-
SOLUTE uCERTAINTY WOULD NOT HASTE, •itT,TT RED
THE HIGHER PURPOSE WHICH I' HAD AT- HEART, to
gibe h rep?esen` iition "in the Government to' ail-•'eleni lits d t�af�; o
population' that strove to maintain the National endeavor in this
war.
* * * * *; *
Those of my colleagues who have recently joined the Gov-
ernment have played a worthy part. ° ',know that they have
yielded only to a sense of supreme duty:, Doubtless the feel
keenlytthe breaking of old ties and the dissolution of long stand-
ing and valued associations. All this means mock to an man
with a to i .publior, .:.Y .
ngp service him; but, HATE T,
CONSCIOUSNESS OF .A GREAT DUTY; ;NOBLY FUL-
FILLED AND THE KNOWLEDGE G THAT A HIGHER AND
MORE NOTABLE SERVICE TO THE ` COUNTRY} LIES
BEFORE THEM. That .they could' not withhold; themselves
when Canada called then is their highest+and complete justifica-
tion. And remember that' there are able'`inen in the Liberal -
Conservative party with, long public service behind them, and
with very legitimate aspiration for promotion, who without bout hesi-
tation, have stood aside in order that. Union- might be .consu consum-
mated. ixi:
mated.
* * * * `... *
appeal toyou all of wh
PP atever party, and especially to those
of the party with which I have been 'associated, -to PONDER
WELL upon' these events, and toput tside every -old
and controversy;yto unite antagonism
in earnest, vigorous effort; to stand
FOR THE COUNTRY.and. not for partizanship. _ PARTY
ANTAGONISM,, when not . based on principle, is a soi r. spec-
tacle at any time. IN THESE AWFUL DAYS IT' IS LITTLE
LESS THAN A CRIME. We have a great -task before -us. The
eyes of; the world are upon Canada in this crisis. Le ..
t us remem-
ber the words. of the. Apostle:
* . * * * *
""Wli'erefor seeing we also, are cam assed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us LAY ASIDE EVERY
WEIGHT and the sin which doth so easilybeset us,and let
us run with patience the race that is set beforeus."
What weight are we to lay aside' in this race? The weight
of partyantagonism,. What is
�' the sin that doth so easily beset
us? The discord and,suspicion "so y to arise' from P,„ likely such an-
tagonism. And how shall we ,'understand the patience upon
which' the Apostle.dwells?.The primary meaning,of the word
is the quality of suffering or enduring. And so `
gwe 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.
:* * * * *
The policies of the 'Government have been ,set forth in two
messages already' addressed to the Canadian people. To night it
is not in{ my heart to dwell' upon thein, for THE„rMES'
SAGE.
WHICH I MUST GIVE YOU:IS THE OVER -MASTERING
NECESSITY OF SUSTAINING THE MEN WHO HOLD
CANADA'S 'FIRST`LINE OF DEFENCE,on 'the es .``
western. front."
They Have gone forth voluntarilyin the flower `
r of their yout:li, to
undertake this duty which daily calls them to bivouac with death.
4.,
THE SOUL OFFRANCE AND BELGIUM. IS„HALLOWED
Y"
BY THE GRAVES A'tr
IaS OF OUR... DEAD, If the a
h task to which these
consecrated their lives in the lastt
sacrifice remains uilaccoin,
plished, shall: we not stand silent, ashamedand humilis e
t tl before
hose' who return?
C
EARNESTLY RNESTLY DIT) r DESIRE
SO L�.the formation of an .�.d
ministration with the broadest possible basis of representation,
,.
THAT -I ' SHOULD WILLINOLY., AND 'EVEN, GLADLy
; . LY
HAVE STOOD ASIDE IF IT HAD PROVED NECESSARY
O. Ti'"IE AccOMPLISHMENT OF ' THAT' PURPOSE,
"Ilaet'e. a be those in the 'art ' wan tivlaich T have e'
nay party be ri assoc:i
itcd who, would 'rc regard this as a reproach a 1to
inf
Isl
ioii
l
d cot
in
If unworthy Of its -aditiot .s ' `' beet
Net from the living alone,,but froth the fallen also, conies to
anada, their beloved'and benign mother, ,the call for aid. Their,
appeal, whether front the uick or the dead, tells you more elo-
quently th, ? any words of Mine; that there is presently' but ONE
iCanadian'.:
sine i
,. N SUPREME t
O., SSUa: _
before the l
_
�
..people,
Shall the C rladian A.rii'ty Corps
y at the faint be SUPPORTED
OR DES: x TED r' ,
? Stx,.11 is the issue• I,,: >r..ilt;vitli all tlae.earxi-
eStY s.s Of t e most intc;1se co13'sjictlln,-�1 speak a8 one upon whom
p
very hcaw tilci try' espo t�iliiiitacs 3ai- e i ceii unposed during
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 respon-
sibility, :so their women relatives at
home .have been chosen to act for all
the women:of Canada in an. act of au
preme, honor and responsibility.
Thep.are,the first Canadian women •
Ur* •be asked°to exercise the franchise .
lir &Federal election. Az their sons,
brothers and husbands at the front,
bear'the burden of proving. the valor
HON. N. W. ROV/ELi„,,•
President of the P,r^ivy, ,..
Council.
StrongMenRepudiate e Luer s
Stand
Most of His Ablest • Supporters Forced
Patriotic Conviction to Join Union
Government to Win the War
The nine;Liberals who have hilted Sir Robert Borden in,rt
Government are all from the most representative and prey?"
the Liberal party in Canada. They are, ; ha feet, the ,siroi
ee
party, both in Eastern and �lestern Ca;x ids, and their , . .
forward to help give the nation united leadership, when .
Robert Borden in October of this year, as. an inspiration to
dian public.
Of those who are not aaetual mantras of the Union
it may be said that every provincial Premier in Canada is an
supporter of the new administration. Indeed, Premier G. H.
Nova Scotia, where politics is Wein very seriously, would 'be
of the Govermnent but for the desire of his Nova Scotia ' cell
have him at home:
The strong Liberals h the.Union Goverasntent include:
Hon. T. A. Cretan, Minister of Agriculture. 'When called'
Sir Robert Borden, he was President of the Grain Grovel'
Company and a recognized power its the development of 'W
Mr. Crerar has no mere provincial vision but stands for Can.
East and \Vest
Hon. F. B. Carvell, 'Minister of 'Public Works, made
reputation as .aa fearless and enacting Parliamentary exilic.
I-lon. C. C. Ballantyne, Minister of . Marine. and .Risheries,
aceuisitiol) Erose the noted business leaders of the' detrogalls of
Montreal. Mr. Ballantyne acacia:led national services- as ,a m
Montreal Harbor Cosi for a number of :.years. Hen p
unique technical knowledge of aaest ineble value in his depart=
will be a psrogaeesive sinister,
Hon. N. W. Rowell, K.C., has been for eeaeral
Liberal pasty in Ontario, .during which time he has been
speaker its all parts of Canada and the United.; States.
vision : and a °'progressive ° in every -sense - of the -Word; --
tea ,
power in the national life.
Hon. Hugh Guthrie, Solicitor -General, represents in ` Pa
constituency which his father, .also a Liberal, Donald Cu
represented: Mr. Guthrie is a man of splendid training' and
and -steadfastness of Canadian me
so they must bear '.the burden
proving the capacity -g and intellige
patriotism of Can edfan 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 •.it. If
they' employ it to•further the best.
interests. of the nation, to loyally
support their men -folk under fire
and to help on the winning of the
war, then the general belief will be
that. women as a whole can be safely
trusted with. the ballot, even at the
most tremendous crisis that.^can a=
feet` a nation's destiny. But if these
pioneers should fail—if they shonid
not show a proper appreciation of
the awful issues at stake
if they should be deluded by some
weird wizardry into deserting- their
men' in the trenches, then the cans
of `women suffrage would be put back
a black half -century.
years one of the most respected and admired figures at. (7tta-
trainizsg of the young ,in city and country., ?:
Hon. A. L.
Bitten, Minister of
Customs, , ,resigned
Premier of Alberta to come to Ottawa..
Since;-19,17-0, °. he • Ina.. oc
that `honorable office with strength amongst the -people. i ca
year. incre _sing year I
He is a genuine Westerner, having grown up with tlie,de e
from the early days, when he was a lopmeT
who began the Canadian movement for technical education
dive in the administration r f the Nor
n west Territories.
of
nt
General S. C. Newburn, Minister of Militia, has had;•a?
career, having joined the army at an.early age as a private
has seen active service, and, since war began, has served
in the" militia organization,
helping to train` Caziadian soldiers.•'
Hon. J. A. Calder, Minister`of Immigration and
formerly Minister of Coln zati�
Railways in the Government of Sas
began adult life as a school teacher, but 1Prorniee
soon became' a promin«r
in 'Western politics and is today a recognized power.
Hon. A. K. Maclean, Minister without Portfolio'
financial critic of the Liberal party who, at the last'eletti
opponent of Premier ` Borden at e non'
'Halifax, running sliced' of' the P
Conservative colleague in the Halifax contest. , Mr. Maclean' ,1
confidence of people of Nova Scotia, . having won success'
provincial and federal politics in the East_
The L.iberai leaders
who have 'joined the
Union Covex
Made a great sacrifice. They must brave: the anger., of -
e followers until they haveroved the
psincerity bf their attitu
pletelythat even partisans Gari understand. Even so
lifelong friendships and allegiances, they
evi
g s, parting'. with a leader evil
win the hearts' of his foIIowers is undeniable.:
It is plain, therefore, that only 3' the strongest. 'convictoi
Robert Borden's policy is right and
� the Laurier policy 'wrong'
to act as they have done.
�.; The
same compelling
facts that
inspired their
similar appeal .to patristic
F� every patriotic citizen.
But it is impossible to believe that
this can happen. These women, to
whom is entrusted at this critical
time the sacred chalice of the
woman's cause, are .Close' .and be-
loved relatives of the men who have.
stepped forward' gladly slid without
'compulsion to serve the kindred
causes of ,liberty, democracy and
tree government, under - conditions
wli.ere pain is a commonplace and
death but an accident. The beloved
of such men cannot ,falter In the
face. of duty, They cannot shame
the heroes whose naiaes they bear-'
whose honor :they, hold Sri trust.
Surely the cause of woman could not.
be laid' ''ulpon- better shoulders nor
left to bravos hearts.
This ie especially true whn the`
test that is to be applieIN;
to their'
proper exercise of. the franchise, will
be the'si'rnpie and appealing one --
'W!11 they vote to send help and
succour to their own menfolk at Ova,
front?"
Surelythe woman 1
will be ';'hard
fattier
to find whoorbroths Willk'desertiVho her rislxhuilrig hisbnuds,
y
life to ensure her safety. while he is
in the very: act of facing a deadly
enemy, whose ,brutalities to women
cry to heaven, his women are called
upon to vote upon whether or not
reinforeemeuto are to be.seiit to sup
pert and relieve :hhn. There cannot
be a moment's doubt as to hew they,
will vote.. Strangers zulght be in •
-
diCferent to his sufferings, `ills dans
gors or iris fate, but ,asam-doly not
his very; b%Vn, If his 'loved one
itis own lionises-, House he has prolix',
ably made, and Is now deteridirl -- '
cannot be truster. to do allthey'
1 ,Ca f'
to, s d '"s
en a r e and 'slice -Oar
si s+ c n I ',
to
li
r deaill au.. e , i.
ra d i whe
� � else wil
5
1
T
T
TS
D THS
Stat . C . .
t'Tl�: l� �f
Pr;X�iX�:
�zster 11e
Com
Xl OXe��
o'
�X g&� •��It•�
�.4
(Frans Hansard. August 16.)
Right Hon, Sir
g lR+Sbert$o d
r en a Mr. ' Spea�;ex`�
attention has been drawn to the stateinent the ,
t txxe:. N
alist partyof
P Y the province oflichee is about bout to ptt
dates in the field on its own.
behalf against T..ibera,+
anservativc candidates, and I am told
n : the rug 'es�i
being made that there is some collusion betweei .
sthe':N
alist arty ;of the province lit
party y P ovirice of Quebec and rely Govern :.
or the friends of my Government in regard to this la s cam'tps
of the Nationalist party. The suggestion is also
because the 'friends of the made:',
. . present Government and
Nationalistart both opposed ti
p Y Also cI Sir Wilfrid Laurier '
i" �n tl'
election of 1911 that there is nos
W,... e
oiii�. connection or co7
sion and that niy supporters and "friends are in ac
" ' . fact eftcC'
aging the Nationalist party of ttcbec in t�,. t.
the course..
they taro adopting. t
1 desire to
1 .
it'ia1i.G a i��C�s'; '�+5e3'1%
prellensive denisi of this
will be etiy conncc