Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-23
SPIRIT PROVES WORTHY
OF HIGHEST TRADITIONS

such indeed was tn" ideal OF tho
Canadian nation. but in common with
all the empire tho spirit Of our people
when tested proved worthy OF their
highest traditions. Within six weeks
after the outbreak OF war u force Of
nearly $1,000 men was assembled, thor
oughly armed, equipped ami organized
IN every branch OF military service.
Its journey across the Atlantic in Il
great armada Of steamships be gan on
October =. 1914. Nearly 100000 ca
naiian soldiers have since gone over
Seas and during the past ten months
they have poured across the ocean ut
the rate of more Than 1000 per week.
Our authorized force is now $50. 900. and
more than 100000 are already under
arms.
Has our national spirit been ade-
Quately responsive TO the nations
needs For courage and devotion
point to TIA. Canadians at Yprcs. AT
Festuhcrt At ,iivcnchy. For sclf-Sac-
ri;icc, sec the womci yicldin.. their
dearest at the .ountry's call and con
sccra'ing their lives to all missions OF
mercy. For tn. t"uutitul generosity
Of our people need but mention
SG,00o,O0n for tn" Patriotic Fund. ST.
0oo.c 600 for the British Red C"oss So
cicty. s3,+0o.oo0 for our own Red Cross
and kindred societies. more than
s2,o0o,"oo for tn. starving and dcsti-
tut" III Belgium. AT least s3.000,O0O in
other patriotic contributions from
provinces and individuals, $4,000. 600 i'm
food products ana other supplies useful
FOR war purposes placed by the do
mmi"n ana the provinces IT the dis
posal of the British government Men
OF great financial experience believed
that subscriptions hy the public at
large to the recent war loan OF $50
100000 would probably reach sl0.oOo.-
600 and could not exceed 1900" O0o
The public added $4,000 900 To the
Sl', 100000 aud the total subscriptions
ran close to $4,000. 0no
II have spoken OF all these things
in order that YOU may truly compre-
hcnd what our course has been in this
war ana that you may, perhaps, he
Eevc that Canada has made her LOYALTY
living principle in n finer way than
ever before. And our empire seems 70
US something greater than IL was n
year ago; when migty armies from the
dcminions and dependencies arravcd
themselves In its battlclinc a new and
oppressive epoch in its history was
'tarked. IhcSe pregnant events have
already given birth 10 a new order. II
is realized that the great policies and
Questions which concern and govern
the issues OF peace and war ana cam
not I'm future be assumed by the pcople
OF the British alone.
"Realizing to the full the tragedy
CT this war We in Canada pray that
the whirring loom of time may weave
the mighty events of the next twelve
months into an abiding peace But
there is with us the most intense con-
viction that the cause for which we
fight does truly concern the freedom
Of the world, and that there can he no
enduring peace until ii fully prevails
lntcrwoven with this conviction is an
equally intense and unaltcrablr deter
minaiion TO spare no effort and shrink
from no sacrifice necessary to make so
great n cause triumphant FINALLY we
nave faith that this war hcralds not
the dies irac,' but the regeneration
o: our civilization, founded, as 1t is
upon so many centuries of aspiration
cEdeavor and sacrifice; faith also that
humanity's struggle against the en-
throncmcnt of force above right will
MAt Lc In ii,