Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-14
The Caution of the Premier.


He appears sensible, prudent. eau
tious lmperiaist, most likely to ask the
electorate to implement some of the
amazing designs with which he is credit
ed by incautious centralizatlonists 1t
may be assumed certain that Sir Wnfred
Laurier and his Opposition would reso-
lutely obstruct passage of any and every
proposal to commit Canada to a radi-
cally new policy in affairs of profound
present and future Importance Why i'm
pute to Mr. Borden a wish or design to
hurry tile country into something nigh
revolution without first obtaining the
celebrates consent at the polls As to
Navy and Imperial Federation" he
seems TO have carefully and skilfully
kept his freedom despite all London
Establishments of the Harmsworth school
Has he not Indicated that a direct Cana
dian contribution to old country funds
or armament will be impossible until
such time as the old country can, will
and shall arrange to give Canada a voice
in respect of war of peace. of the ex-
penditure on and shaping of ornaments
And does any political being conceive
that such voice" can he arranged for
in a twelvemonth? Could the old coun-
try electorate. always face to face with
great. dangerous Powers, and ALWAYS
aware that need for promptest acton
may arrive TO their executive at any
hour, he persuaded in year TO en-
barrass that executive by some novel ar
rangement for giving Canada, Australia
South Africa, New Zealand. anything
more than a'me too voice i'm London's
foreign affairs. or resolutions touching
war? Who can seriously believe that
Canadians IN general would not only
consent to supply TO old country breth-
rem immense moneys or immense battle
ships, but thus commit themselves, by
the precedent, TO similar lavishness in
any future similar emergency, unless I'M
der political arrangement which would
secure to Canada not merely "A voice.
but a choee-the choice of engaging in
or Withdrawing from any course favored
by London.
Our judicious premier plainly Kept in
mind, during all his London banquets, the
immense difficulty of establishing such
Ia political arrangement as he indicated
to be a necessary preliminary to direct
Canadian contributions of money or
ships. lie virtually said, what surely al
most every Canadian would echo, IF the
politically impossible could be done, we
might delight to supply cash or arma-
ments in support thereof" Did not Sir
Wifrid Laurier, years ago. say virtually
the same when he remarked, "If YOU
wish for our aid call us to you coun-
ellis Were Canadians called? Can
they be so called? Is not the right and
only possible solution TO carry on the
most successful of empires by develop
ing the voluntary system through which
the success has been achieved? Is mis-
alleging that Canadians do not perceive,
acknowledge the awful emergency mat
seems nigh the mother country, inhabit-
cd by their hrethren2 Not so. Plain evil
dence conyinces Canadians in general
that Germany means TO dispute with
Britons the supremacy of the seas. This
supremacy is so necessary or almost vi
tai ta Canada. To all the other domin-
ions. and even To the United States,
that all who speak the English language
might well hasten to actions that will
secure that supremacy. But to what
actions? y little while ago Canadians
We're being reproached by the Harms
worth School with meanly, pusillani-
mously leaving upon the poor of Great
Britain the responsibility and the bur
den of our defence The reproach was
and is largely sound. How free our
selves therefrom? Surely by assuming
our own defence. And would this be to
refrain from aid to the old country
brethren? Not so. 1t would be- first, to
relieve them and thus to enable them to
direct their thoughts and plans solely
to their own defence. Second, it would
he to put ourselves in shape to aid them
most effectually at pinch. AS an able
bodied man, who has so trained himself
that his hands can keep his own head,
is able and usually willing to bring his
fists to his brothers help. so we, feeling
hecure on our coasts. could bruise INTO
the old country's aid whenever the
brethren needed us. Yea, and eXult in
the exercise.
Justice Goff. of New York, deserves