the major-第27节
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hat he was in demand for just such occasions as a Dominion Day celebration and in just such a community as Wolf Willow。 The theme of his address was Canadian Citizenship； Its Duties and Its Responsibilities； a theme somewhat worn but possessing the special advantage of being removed from the scope of party politics while at the same time affording opportunity for the elucidation of the political principles of that party which Mr。 Gilchrist represented； and above all for a fervid patriotic appeal。 With Scotch disdain of all that savoured of flattery or idle compliment； Mr。 Gilchrist plunged at once into the heart of his subject。
〃First； the area of Canada。 Forty…six years ago； when Canada became a nation； the Dominion possessed an area of 662；148 square miles； to…day her area covers 3；729；665 square miles； one…third the total size of the British Empire； as large as the continent of Europe without Russia； larger by over one hundred thousand square miles than the United States。〃
〃Hear； hear；〃 cried an enthusiastic voice from the rear。
〃Aye； water and snow；〃 in a rasping voice from old McTavish。
〃Water and snow；〃 replied Mr。 Gilchrist。 〃Yes； plenty of water； 125；000 square miles of it； and a good thing it is too for Canada。 Some people sniff at water；〃 continued the speaker with a humorous glance at McTavish； 〃but even a Scotchman may with advantage acknowledge the value of a little water。〃 The crowd went off into a roar of laughter at the little Scotchman who was supposed to be averse to the custom of mixing too much water with his drink。
〃My friend； Mr。 McTavish；〃 continued the speaker； 〃has all a Scotchman's hatred of bounce and brag。 I am not indulging in foolish brag； but I maintain that no Canadian can rightly prize the worth of his citizenship who does not know something of his country； something of the wealth of meaning lying behind that word 'Canada；' and I purpose to tell you this evening something of some of Canada's big things。 I shall speak of them with gratitude and with pride； but chiefly with a solemnising sense of responsibility。
〃As for the 'water and the snow' question： Let me settle that now。 Water for a great inland continental country like ours is one of its most valuable assets for it means three things。 First； cheap transportation。 We have the longest continuous waterway in the world； and with two small cuttings Canada can bring ocean…going ships into the very heart of the continent。 Second； water means climate rainfall； and there need be no fear of snow and frost while great bodies of open water lie about。 And third； water power。 Do you know that Canada stands first in the world in its water power？ It possesses twice the water power of the United States （we like to get something in which we can excel our American cousins）； and lying near the great centres of population too。 Let me give you three examples。 Within easy reach of Vancouver on the west coast there is at least 350；000 horse power； of which 75；000 is now in use。 Winnipeg； the metropolitan centre of Canada； where more than in any place else can be heard the heart beat of the Dominion； has 400；000 horse power available； of which she now uses 50；000。 Toronto lies within reach of the great Niagara； whose power no one can estimate； while along the course of the mighty St。 Lawrence towns and cities lie within touch of water power that is beyond all calculation as yet。 And do you Alberta people realise that right here in your own province the big Bassano Dam made possible by a tiny stream taken from the Bow River furnishes irrigation power for over a million acres？ Perhaps that will do about the water。〃
〃Oo aye；〃 said McTavish； with profound resignation in his voice。 〃Ye'll dae wi' that。〃
〃And snow；〃 cried the speaker。 〃We would not willingly be without our snow in Canada。 Snow means winter transport； better business； lumbering； and above all； wheat。 Where you have no snow and frost you cannot get the No。 1 hard wheat。 Don't quarrel with the snow。 It is Canada's snow and frost that gives her the first place in the world in wheat production。 So much for the water and the snow。〃
McTavish hitched about uneasily。 He wanted to have the speaker get done with this part of his theme。
From Canada's area Mr。 Gilchrist passed on to deal with Canada's resources； warning his audience that the greater part of these resources was as yet undeveloped and that he should have to indulge in loud…sounding phrases； but he promised them that whatever words he might employ he would still be unable to adequately picture to their imagination the magnitude of Canada's undeveloped wealth。 Then in a perfect torrent he poured forth upon the people statistics setting forth Canada's possessions in mines and forests； in fisheries； in furs； in agricultural products； and especially in wheat。 At the word 〃wheat〃 he pulled up abruptly。
〃Wheat；〃 he exclaimed； 〃the world's great food for men。 And Canada holds the greatest wheat farm in all the world。 Not long ago Jim Hill told the Minneapolis millers that three…fourths of the wheat lands on the American continent were north of the boundary line and that Canada could feed every mouth in Europe。 Our wheat crop this year will go nearly 250；000；000 bushels； and this； remember； without fertilisation and with very poor farming； for we Western Canadians are poor farmers。 We owe something to our American settlers who are teaching us something of the science and art of agriculture。 Remember； too； that our crop comes from only one… seventh of our wheat lands。 Had the other six…sevenths been cropped； our wheat yield would be over three and a half billion bushelsjust about the world's supply。 We should never be content till Canada does her full duty to the world； till Canada gives to the world all that is in her power to give。 I make no apology for dwelling at such length upon Canada's extent and resources。
〃Now let me speak to you about our privileges and responsibilities as citizens of this Dominion。 Our possessions and material things will be our destruction unless we use them not only for our own good； but for the good of the world。 And these possessions we can never properly use till we learn to prize those other possessions of heart and mind and soul。〃
With a light touch upon the activities of Canadians； in the development of their country in such matters as transportation and manufactures； he passed to a consideration of the educational； social； industrial； political and religious privileges which Canadian citizens enjoyed。
〃These are the things；〃 he cried； 〃that have to do with the nation's soul。 These are the things that determine the quality of a people and their place among the nations； their influence in the world。 In the matter of education it is the privilege of every child in Canada to receive a sound training； not only in the elementary branches of study； but even in higher branches as well。 In Canada social distinctions are based more upon worth than upon wealth； more upon industry and ability than upon blue blood。 Nowhere in the world is it more profoundly true that
〃'A man's a man for a' that； The rank is but the guinea's stamp； The man's the gowd for a' that。'〃
At this old McTavish surprised the audience and himself by crying out； 〃Hear…r…r； hear…r…r；〃 glancing round defiantly as if daring anyone to take up his challenge。
〃In matters of religion；〃 continued the speaker； 〃the churches of Canada hold a position of commanding influence； not because of any privileges accorded them by the State； nor because of any adventitious or meretricious aids； but solely because of their ability to minister to the social and spiritual needs of the people。〃
Briefly the speaker proceeded to touch upon some characteristic features of Canadian political institutions。
〃Nowhere in the world；〃 he said； 〃do the people of a country enjoy a greater measure of freedom。 We belong to a great world Empire。 This connection we value and mean to cherish； but our Imperial relations do not in the slightest degree infringe upon our liberties。 The Government of Canada is autonomous。 Forty…six years ago the four provinces of Canada were united into a single Dominion with representative Government of the most complete kind。 Canada is a Democracy； and in no Democracy in the world does the will of the people find more immediate and more complete expression than in our Dominion。 With us political liberty is both a heritage and an achievement； a heritage from our forefathers who made this Empire what it is； and an achievement of our own people led by great and wise statesmen。 This priceless possession of liberty we shall never surrender； for the nation that surrenders its liberty； no matter what other possessions it may retain； has lost its soul。〃
The address concluded with an appeal to the people for loyal devotion to the daily duties of life in their various relations as members of families； members of the community； citizens of the Province and of the Dominion。 In the applause that followed the conclusion of this address； even old McTavish was observed to contribute his share with something amounting almost to enthusiasm。
CHAPTER XI
THE SHADOW OF WAR
