The Irish standard., 1909-09-04
THE BRITISH coLoNIsrs,

THE BRITISH cOLONIsTS.
In case of war between England and
poets the coonists OF the empire IT,
take up arms in defense of the mothr,
country. In the South African w.t.
Canadians and Australians left thr.r
distant homes to help England against
handful of farmers. and the regula'
army officers looked upon them as m
terlopers in the same way as the Brit
ish officers looked on the American
cOlOnists in the French and Indian
old. the Canadians and Australians
fought nObly. though in a bad cause,
il: South Africa, and proved that the3
were far superior as fighters to tho
Tommy Atkinses in the regular serv-
ice. no wonder the British govern
ment expects them to shoulder their
nluskets in future wars and shed tn ir
blood for the preservation of the Ell.
pre- on which the sun never sets.
Many Canadians and Australians
would undoubtedly respond to the call
OF the mother country in the day Of
distress, and they would unquestior-
ably render an excellent account CT
themselves as they did in South AZ
RIGA, but many of them would hesi-
tate before embarking for the scene
CT hostilities. The lingo sentiment is
abroad, however. in Canada, and with
ir the past few weeks it has grown
stronger from the fact that some
third class warships have been offered
to Canada by the British admiralty to1
colonial defense. OF course, no de-
Tense Of Canada will be needed If
England is engaged in war with any
European or Aslatic power, for the
aegis Of the United States, through the
Monroe Doctrine, is sufficient protec-
ton from foreign attack. The Canad-
ians realize that fact and are no,
alarmed.
Not only does England expect Canad.
ians and Australians to display their
patriotism and valor when called on
but she also expects the New Zealand.
lis and South Africans to follow suit
The British secretary for war has out
lined plan by which all the colonies
q
that OF Germany when combined with
the home regulars. Military colleges
are to be established in the colonies
where thorough training in arms I.
to be given to the young men. and
in this way the United Kingdom, Can
ada, Australia. New Zealand and Sout.,
Africa could furnish % army corps
which is the strength Of the Ger
man army on war footing. It is too
of the scheme, but it is safe to asser,
that the South Africans will not JUMP
at the proposal. The laboring mer
Of Canada have already entered a pro.
test against fighting England's bat.
ties. The call for the meeting Of the
Trade and Labor Congress of Canada
in Quebec on September 20 contains
this paragraph:
"A pronouncement is urgently need.
ed upon the present lingo propaganl;
! for military training in the schools
and military and naval equipment
Canada ia a country of peace. The
problem Of living on lines of harmony
is difficult enough without having
fastened upon us vast expenditure
for nonproductive but highly destruc-
| tive effort War is hell for the
, workingman. Labor cannot be silent
at this juncture but should unite Will
all peace-loving citizens of Canada
to squelch in its infancy the forccl
sentiment that would involve us in the
quarrels of other lands"
That declaration has the right rina
! to it. Why should the Canadians IN.
cur the cost Of training their sens
to become soldiers for England? VIVA,
does England do for Canadians? The
mother country sends them a useless
governor general to draw 4 big sal
airy from the Canadian exchequer
Canada is a self-governing colony and
ought to become nation by throw.