Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-23
CANADIANS CONFIDENT
THEIR CAUSE IS JUST
as Firmly RESOLVED as Mother Coun-
try That There Shall he No
IncOncluSivc Peace.
TEST TRIES SPIRIT OF NATION
Sir Robert Laird Borden, Prime Min
lister OF Dominion, Delivers Ad-
dress at Annual Dinner of New
England Society in New York.


firmly resolved as is the mother coun-
try that the European war shall not he
terminated by any inconcluSivc peace.
declared Sir Robert Laird Borden. the
Prime Minister of the Canadian govern
mcnt In an address Tonight at the
10th annual dinner Of the New ENG
land Society in New York.
1t was the flrst public address de-
liVcred by Sir Robert I'm the United
states since the beginning Of the war.
and 1t follows closely upon his visit
10 England and France for official con-
fcrcnccs as to Canadian participation
In the conflict. After reviewing his
own Intimate associations with New
England life and ideals, and recalling.
among other things, how many thou
sand Canadians fought under the Stars
and stripes in New England regiments
during the Civil War. and speaking Of
the phenomenal growth OF the Ca
madam Dominion. he outlined the rela-
lions OF Canada to the European war.
He said
ITO the Canadian people thus i'm
mcrsed in the pursuit Of material de-
rclopment there came little more than
n year ago call and test which
searched and tried the spirit of the
nation. Until then Canada had known
little Of tho ac.ualitics OF war for 4
century. The course which she should
pursue was entirely within the judG
mcnt and disposition Of her Parliament
and people. From the first time there
was not the slightest hesitation
Recalled hurrcdly to Ottawa on the
first day OF August. 1914. l took the
responsibility, in. the absence OF my
colleagues. Of sending to the British
government n message which expressed
our most earnest hope that peaceful
solutlon OF international difficulties
might he achieved and our strong do
al N tn, lr
way for that purpose: but which con-
veycd also to that government the firm
assurance that II unhappily war should
ensue. the Canadian people would be
united In 4 common resolve TO put
forth every effort and to make every
sacrifice necessary to ensure the in
tegrity and maintain the honor OF our
empire.
The pledge thus given has been most
fully redeemed bv the Canadian people.
DOES NOT ARGUE OR AFFIRM
JUSTICE Or CAUSE
81 do not propose to argue or affirm
tho justice O.. our cause. The great
controlling facts have been firmly es-
tablishcd, and they are widely known.
Upon these facts tho people of the ncu-
trail nations must found their own con
illusions. The Canadian people arc i'm
pressed with the most earnest and In
tense conviction that our cause is just.
and that It VIII prevail. Undoubtedly
II concerns the powers, influence and
destiny Of our empire. But we are con-
WINGED beyond all question that this
conflict is OF vastly wider Significance
and that It's determination must e1er-
else profound influence upon the
worlds future. Mankind have never
been so gr!cvcusly oppressed by the
'pcine forte de due Of m!litarisn
and ornaments AS during the past half
century. This is not an inspiring
record after NIL the aspiration. the eff
fort and the sacrifices .! a thousand
years. All the lives sacrificed and all
the treasure expended In the struggle
will have been in vain II humanity
must still endure so !ntolcrahl- re-
straint added to the staggering bur
den which this conflict viii itself
tail upon all the warning nations. such,
however, would he tho result OF au
inconclusivc peace. The people OF the
British dominions are animated by a
stern resolve that there shall be no
such outcome. II Is for the future
peace OF the world that We fight TO
the end. The chief Insignia OF civil
lizcd nation are orderly government
and respect for the law. y world civil
lization which cannot establish and
maintain an equally high international
standard Will assurcdly crumblc. II it
Pounds itself upon the jungle creed,
to tho jungle II will return.
y Y
taken prisoner by the Germans told
me that one OF the first questions asked
t,y his Captors was this: What did
the English say to Induce Canadians
TO fight for them? 7 have heard the
same idea In the British Islands when
gratitude was expressed to Canada for
assistance to Great Britain in this war.
This Is by no means the viewpoint OF
Canadians. We take part in this Strug-
gle because the dstiny Of the world
wide British commonwealth is our dcs
tiny, because as one Of It's great nations
we are determined to preserve its
power and It's influence; and because We
conceived that as ono OF those nations,
there is for us the highest opportunity
to advance the cause of humanity and
civilization, to do our part worthily in
- the worlds work.
ASTONISHING CONFUSION
OF VARIED SYSTEMS
"Thc student of government finds i'm
! tho organization OF the British en-
pire an astonishing confusion of varied
i systems. To govern such an empire at
all Is as great an undertaking rs his
tory has ever known.
MAY | ask n moments consideration
Of those involved In the Govcrance OF
the British dominions. 4 territory more
than three times greater than that of
the United States scattered over all
the continents and through all the
oceans. n total population four times
greater than yours; a white population
| little more Than onc-half your own. OF
which three fourths reside within the
relatively inconsidcrahle area Of the
British Islands; an almost Infinite va
| ricty and divergence of race and creed:
discordant ideals and social conditions:
conflicting cN-cconomic interests: four
sclf-govcrnng nations. one I'm the
Northern and three in the Southern
Hemisphere. all rapidly developing in
power and influence: great depend
ency with a population of 800, 900 900
embracing dozen races with be-
wildcring divergence of creed. casts
tradition custom and language; protec-
,oratcs involving responsibility for the
development OF great territories and the
protection and welfare OF large popula-
~ OF Gs.1a.a