New-York tribune., 1909-04-11


''The surest defences Of Canada are not in the
multiplicity OF forts and guns and torpedo boats
but in rapidly increasing population, intelligent,
prosperous united and free Canada will not accept
responsibility for all the wars into which British
politicians. or British diplomats. may lead the
British Parliament"
VIEWS OF PRACTICAL MEN.
These are the views in whole in part, of off,
cai and aggressive section OF the Liberal party, OF
q majority Of French-Cansdian politicians The
Conservative leaders and politicians hold different
opinions in the main. but they do not express them
very freely. The mass Of feeling in both parties
is inert, though with a great deal Of powerful i'm
perial sentiment lying dormant for want Of lead
ership. Individual expressions of constructive
opinion and policy are, however, steadily growing
In number and in force. Men Of leadership in
walks Of life apart from politics coming out
strongly in favor Of some kind of action. If from
one extreme point OF view politician has pro-
claimed millions for defence but not a cent for
tribute as his policy he has been met by the
quiet person who at the other extreme of the dis
cussion, described the correct coat-of-arms for
canada as sponge rampant" In between these
extremes are so be found like Sir Sandford
Fleming. of Ottawa: Sir George Drummond. of
Montreal; J. s. Willison, Of The News; ]. NJ.
Clark, h. c.; B. F. Walker. president of the Cana
dian Bank Of Commerce: Sir H. NJ. Pellatt, of To-
ronto; Justice Russell and Chief Justice Barker Of
St John, and F. c. Wade K. c. Of Vancouver
VINO support the idea of doing something to help
IN empire defence. Men like Mayor Sanford
Evans OF Winnipeg, and 4. E. Kemp, ex-M. P,
OF Toronto want Canadian navy. Men like
Lieutenant Colonel James Mason. Frank z Hodg-
ms K e. and T. c. Robinette X c. of To-
ronto' would contribute battleshps at regular In
teFVals to the royal navy. A few outspoken men in
pupHc NE. such as Sir J. P. whitney the Con-
serNalve Premier Of Ontario: Senator G. w Ross
formerly y Liberal Premier of that province; L. P
OeHleTs' a Liberal and French-Canadian member
OF Parliament Hon George E. Foster NJ p one
OF the leaders Of the Conservative party: IT NJ
-Ho"at' r. g. president of the Ontario Liberal AS
' ttoH' w X George, late president Of the
Cahaolan Manufacturers Association; W D Cock
smut ex-M- p; Colonel S. Hughes M P and :,
d Smith. ex-M. P-the three latter Conservatt,,os
mold pronounced views as the necessity for ae-
tion. N ~
II must not be inferred from this sttempt at
aIialyzlng public opinion that nothing at all has
oeen done. officially unoficially to heIp in or
gaHizing better system. Despite the eDparent1v
negative attitude of the government In anv discus
eloh Oh the question, some constructive work has
Deen slowly developing. The assumption by Canada
OF the defences and responsibilities Herewith at
Hall1ax and EsQuin1alt have been Variouslv inter
pTeted as TO final results. But in its inception the
policy was widely proclaimed as cne Of taking
snare ana contributing some little aid in the de-
renee OF the empire The agitation for the estab-
hshment Of royal naval reserve in Canada came
very near success and would have been in opera
tton now had Mr.. Prefontaine Minister of Marine
rot died suddenly while completing the details The
expenditure upon the militia has rly doubled in
the last few years and this has been dcne with the
publicly announced intention of carrying out Can
ada's duty more fully IN the matter of internal
fence.
THE SPIRIT OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
In 1903 Sir Frederick Borden, Minister of Militia
accepted a place upon the British Committee of
Imperial Defence with the understanding that he
would attend when any important matter affecting
Canada's military force was involved. and, of
course. II anything In the nature of war should
occur and the Dominion decide TO to the aid
Of the mother country. The imperial conference Of
1907 approved and the Canadian government has
recently accepted the policy of imperial general
staff, though the details a proposed TO be worked
out, do not indicate any very pronounced unifying
force. The principle. however, is a good one and
its acceptance a step IN the direction of unity.
As 10 the rest. public opinion though inert. is
being slowly and steadily stirred up; the press,
though II may be Indifferent a whole, is moro
and more recognizing that something is wrong with
Canadas position. and that nationalism is as in
compatible with dependence for defence 1t al
ways has been with legislative dependence In 1902
the Conference Of Canadian Boards of Trade passed
resolution IL faver Of sharing IN the defence Of
the empire by a yearly appropriation expended
under Dominion direction In 1906 a unanimous
resolution was passed at the Montreal meeting Of
the chambers of commerce Of the empire declaring
It TO be the duty OF the colonies TO share in i'm
periai defence. In recent years the u T.. LOSal-
lists Association Of Toronto, the Daughters Of the
Empire and the Navy League have maintained an
active advocacy along the lines Of Canadian con-
tribution IN some form other. From time to
time the Montreal, Toronto. Kingston, Winnipeg,
Vancouver Victoria and other boards Of trade have
passed favorable resolutions At present about
twenty newspa pers-ot which two-thirds are Con
servatve in politi-- may be said to advocate some
kind of definite and organized action.
Such is the general situation in regard TO this
rf1sc rr,1v
come with great rapidity As to the details of its
through some modification Of the Hofmeyr plan OF
a special empire tariff. with proceeds over and
q hove existing tariffs, to be earmarked In each OF
the dornincrs for purposes of defence. II may be
by the contribution Of occasional battleship, or
one at special intervals, to the royal navy, to be
constructed in Canada and perhaps maintained by
Canada II may be through a Strengthening OF
seaport deIences the establishment Of naval re-
serves the organization Of marine force on the
Great Lakes It nay be by means OF a local feet
gradually constructed and evolved out Of the exist
fnK fisheries protective services 1t may be through
the more logical and effective but difficult and uh-
popular rnetnod of a stated contribution TO the
FrItish Admiralty, with some as yet undehned
method of representation and control
Whatever the ultimate solution, the question IS
,,t.sl TO the far wider problem Of the whole future
or ysnada-vhether il is to be British or an
American nation, a people separate from Gleat
Britain or united to It's motheFland by the close
bonds OF defence of loyal allegiance to the Crown
of commercial interest and perhaps OF mutual
tariff preferences. J. - n