Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-28
The Last Conflict at Arms.

Sir Robert Laird Borden, premier OF
Canada, spoke at luncheon in MS
honor at the Lawyers Club in New
York recently, discussing the influence
of the European war on Canada, the
determination of his countrymcn to
carry their part in the great conflict
through to the end. the friendly re-
lations between Canada and the Uni
ted States, and on the ideal OF an
ultimate scheme of selfmaStery among
the nations of the world to prevent
war.
Himself a lawyer for many years,
Premier Borden said he spoke not only
as a lawyer to lawyers, but as a kins-
man to kinsmen, since on either side
of the unguarded and invisible boun-
Diary between the United States and
Canada, the national life found it's in
SEPARATION in the like ideals of demo-
cracy.
1t is true there are tariffs, said the
premier, but during the past decade
We have manifested our neishborly
spirit by purchasing your products to
the extent of $4,000, 900, 600. l should al
SO add that we paid for them; and as
Il final proof of our friendship we have
recently borrowed from you SIPS, 600, 600
of the sum thus paid. We have ex-
changed immigrants both east and
west The arrows of the little winged
divinity shoot ceaselessly across the
frontier. In short, the citizens of these
two neighboring and kindred common
wealths have developed a reciprocal
understanding, goodwill and respect so
complete that it would be difficult to
ind parallel in history"
He appealed to the lawyers to rec
ognize the field that was open to the
bar of great neutral nation in help
ing to define international law and
right in such terms that by them the
peace of the world might be MAIN
tanned. He said:
The nations have been brought so
closely together that there is a certain
community of national life throughout
the world AS the establishment and
enforcement of laws within an organ
lZed civilized community depend in the
final analysis upon the will of the
people and upon public opinion within
that community. SO the enforcement. of
public rights through organization of
the nations prepared in advance must
also depend upon the public opinions
OF the world. Upon the advance and
development of that opinion must rest
the hopes of those who look for a world
tribunal backed when necessary nv
worldwide force for the restraint of
IN outlaw nation. Many voices ad-
monish us that all this is dealstic and
Visionary, that the standards. concern
tons and purposes of our present civ
ilization forbid the realizatio of any
such ideal. that there must he tn,
death of this era and the birth of a
new before humanity shall attain to 81
much self-mastery. All conjecture is
ldle, but to me it is certain as my own
existence that modern civilization will
ultimately disintegrate and perish if it
i"iis W dcileNe tnlS idea.
10 us involved in the most. terrible
struggle that humanity has ever
kntwn-a struggle in which we have
taken part of Our own free will and
because we realize the world -compel.
ing consideration which its issues in
'oNe-the events of the past two wears
nave brought both lesson and an in.
spiration
Many hundred thousand men will
return after this war to their homes in
the oversee dominions of the British
commonwealth. They will have
''ronSed upon the stage Of the worlds
'heatre OF action and taken a mighty
part in settling world issues and dc.
tetmininS the future destiny OF civil.
ration and humanity. Upon our At.
iantic and Pacific shores. by our in.
iahu waterways, in the northern hin.
iermnds OF Ontario and Quebec, on Oh,
vast western plains and still furthe,
west within the shadow of ma iestie
mountain ranges. these men will taks
up anew the task of developing and
uppullding our country. They viii take
up that work with a consciousness that
tahaua pas played a worthy part fr
the fatefui struggle which she entered
AT the call Of duty and for the cause q,
freedom. Theirs will be an imperish.
able recollection of comradeship with
men OF the motherland and of all parts
OF the kings dominions: theirs also
wider vision and deeper insight from
service In high cause. Hardly less
profound will be the influence of RI.
war upon all our people. They have
learned that self sacrifice in inst
cause Is at once duty and a blessing
ana this lesson has both inspired and
ennobled the men and women OF Can.
ada"
Premier Borden's words sink mora
deeply the impression that had been
made throughout the neutral world.
that Britain's determination and that OF
France. is to night the worlds final
battle in this conflict: that there shall,
be no truce but a conclusion: that at
the end the powers Of the earth shall
be glad to MAXI WAR IMPOSSIBLE in tina