Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-28
BORDEN DISCUSSES THE WAR

Recalled hurriedIy to Ottawa on the
first day Of August, 1914, I took the
responsibility, in the absence of my
colleagues, os sending to the British
government a message which express
ed our most earnest hope that peace
full solution Of international difficulties
might be achieved and our strong de-
sire to cooperate in every possible
way for that purpose; but which con
veyed also to that government the firm
assurance that if unhaDpily war should
ensue, Canadian people would unite
in a common resolve to put forth ev-
cry effort and TO make every sacrifice
necessary to ensure the integrity and
maintain the honor of our empire.
The pledge thus given has been
most fully redeemed by the Canadian
people.
4 do not propose to argue or affirm
the justice of our cause. The great
controlling facts have been firmly es-
tablished and they are widely known.
Upon these facts the people OF the
neutral nations must found their own
/ conclusions. The Canadian people are
I impressed with the most earnest and
intense conviction that our cause is
( just and that it will prevail Undoubt-
/ eddy it concerns the powers. influence
and destiny of our empire. But We are
/ convinced beyond all question that this
! conflict is of vastly wider significance
I and that its determination must exer-
else d profound influence upon the
worlds future. Mankind has never
been so grievously oppressed by the
'peine forte ct dure' of militarism and
| ornaments as during the past halt
century. This is not an inspiring rec
ord after all the aspiration, the effort
AND the sacrifices Of a thousand years.
| All the lives sacrificed and all the
| treasures expended In the struggle will
have been IN vain if humanity must
still endure so intolerahle restraint
added to the staggering burden which
this conflict will itself entail upon ali
the warning nations. Such. however,
would be the result of an inc0nciusive
peace. The people Of the British domin-
ions are animated by a stern resolve
that there shall be no such outcome.
It is for the future peace of the world
that we fight to the end. The chief in
sigma of a civilized nation are or
derby government and respect for the
law. a world-ciyilization which can
not establish and maintain an equally
high international standard will as
suredly crumble. II it Pounds itself up
on the jungle creed, to the jungle II
will return.
"A Canadian medical officer who was
taken prisoner by the Germans told
me that one of the first questions ask
ed by his captors was this: What die
the English say to induce the Canad.
ians to fight for them?' I have heard
the same idea in the British islands
when gratitude was expressed in Can.
ada for assistance 10 Great Britain in
this war. This is by no means the view.
point Of Canadians. We take part il
this struggle because the destiny OF
the worldwide British commonwealth
is our destiny, because as one Of i'll
nations We are determined to preserve
its power and its influence; and be
cause We conceive that, as one d
those nations, there is for Us the high.
est opportunity to advance the Gauss
OF humanity and civilization. 10 do oul
part worthiIy in the worlds work.
THE student Of government finds ir
the organization Of the British empire
an astonishing confusion of varies
systems. To govern such an empire a
all is as great an undertaking as his
tory has ever known
May ! ask moments considera
ton OF those involved iii the govern
ment OF the British dominians. A ter
ritory more than three times create
than that of the United States. scat
tered over all the continents ant
through all the oceans; a total nepu
laton four times greater than yours;