Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-19

l
OF our Canadian citizens. he very
emphatically contradicted my state
| ment that Sir Wilfrid Laurier had eve
been criticized for not favoring Cana
dian recruits to the Boer war. ..:...
| This gentleman stated, moreover
| that Mr.. Laurier had made public
speeches in favor of sending yolun
teers to South Africa, and was so re
ported in Hansard's (the Canadian
Congressional Record''). " ~ Il"
Though positive of the correctness
of my impression, / did not have al
Eand any documentary evidence tc
sustain me, but | promised to take
the matter up. :.'..., =.
Yesterday came a letter from VI
Tic Barthe, intimate friend and bio
grapher Of Mr. Laurier, saying that
he had sent me copy of his book
together with other matter on the sub
ject. " $3.50. @.~:~... -....~.- T..
On page Is Of this publication-"Si
Wilfrid Laurier, premier ministre du
Canada" | find: =" -: III. -. -.
After becoming prime minister, Mr..
Laurier was obliged to face two deli
cate situations: one, the occasion of
the Boer war, the other, the granting
OF separate schools to the provinces
of the West. ~" ..... J.: -. ~. =
when President Kruger presented
his ultimatum to the British govern
ment, Ontario requested the Canadian
government to send volunteers to aid
the mother country in her war against
the Beers. =. -. - --,... D.. -: .
This proposal was coldly received
in the province Of Quebec, where the
majority of it's citizens if not in sym.
pathy with the Beers, were at least
neutral IT,. .>... .*.:..
Therefore Sir Wilfrid stated that
Canadian military laws did not au-
thoriZe his government to use Cana
dian troops for any other purpose than
the defense of Canada itself; that,
indeed, if he made any other use Of
them in compliance with the request
of the province of Ontario, his action
would be unconstitutional and ille-
sal. :"#... -.
had not asked for such help, nor stat.
ed that she was in need of it, or that
military assistance would be accept
ed we're it offered. -
'Sir John Macdonald had himself
1efused to send troops to aid England
in her war in Egypt. .~% IT,.
But such was war sentiment in
Ontario that Sir Wilfrid Laurier's re-
fusal was misconstrued, and he was
accused of disloyalty to the home
government, or of want. of patriotism
at least" -=-'
In 1904 "L'Union des Cantons de
Lest" said: .--:.:@
Undoubtedly it was the intention
Of H. NJ. King Edward to create Sir
Wilfrid Laurier duke of Arthabaska.
The refusal of Sir Wilfrid Laurier to
send troops to Africa and his reasons
tt erefore have deprived Mr.. Laurfer
of his laurels, but the Canadian peo-
pie have shown their loyalty to their
favorite SON" =. "=... " -.
Afterwards, when the 1900 elections
were over, and Mr.. Laurier was sus-
tanned by large majority Though
Ontario went conservative, the rea-
of his position became
clear :r 49,. /
1t was the Canadian spirit of in
dependence which existed more large
ly in Quebec which adjoins New Eng
land, than elsewhere in Canada, and
of which Mr.. Laurier's "Defricheur"
published by him in his early man
hood) was a radical exponent. 49,.
In those days when Mr.. Laurier was
more radical. or at least more enthrs-
iaaticany so, he was accused of heine
an annexationist. Hut often he had