New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-19

Canada Carries On"


proof of her courage. her devotion, her
strength. The maple leaf" planted on one
Of the great bulwarks Of German
tyranny in France was a final evidence OF
the attitude of one-half of North America
to the Boche threat to civilization.
Before Vimy the Canadians had borne
their part nobly. It was soldiers Of the
Dominion who broke the first weight Of
the German thrust after the gas attack
IN the Second Battle of Ypres. The Brit
:sh Empire will long remember gratefully
the sacrifices Of the Little Black Devils
and the princess Pats" on that blood
soaked ground about Ypres where the vet
Gran army Of Britain-the "old contempt
blesr-found their glory and their graves
in October and November, 1914.
OF the Canadians at the front there was
no question. They had seen the German
thing as it was. Their comrades had been
"gassed" and crucifed. Their fellow
Canadians had fought clearly and bravely
against a barbarism which expressed It
self in methods and in tricks which were
beneath the contempt of white men and
below the level of savages. Canada at
the front knew the German-but what OF
Canada behind the front. three thou
sand miles away-would that line hold,
too?
Well. the world has its answer now.
The politicians doubted. The weak, the
weary. the conquered and the disloyal
snread their forecasts and proclaimed the
outcome. They are answered; so are
doubling politicians and faint hearted pa
triots the world over. As the American
democracy found itself by rejecting Lin
coin in 1864. the Canadian democracy has
justified democracy and itself in 1917 by
resnlisting for the war, by accepting the
man and the methods which alone promise
victory.
II is a stirring thing, this victory of
democracy in Canada over all the forces
which make for surrender and for worse
than surrender. The voice of the first
Allied electorate TO be heard in many,
many months is a sign for all Allied
statesmen to observe and heed. Canada
has sent 100000 men to Europe; Canada
has borne more than $4,000 casualties;
but to the call of duty Canada's response
is immediate and unmistakable. 1t is
response which will be heard the world
over. It is response which will be noted
in Berlin as we'll as in London. Is it too
much to suspect it may even be heard in
Rome?
The United States will congratulate and
pay just tribute TO its neighboring democ-
racy for its decision. In a time Of momen-
tary pessimism Canada has cheered all
Of us. In an hour OF depression and
weakness Canada has shown the road of
courage and victory illuminated by the
spirit Of self-sacriice and devotion. She
has been faithful TO her dead; to those
Ct her sons murdered as we'll as those
slain in fair fight
Germany proclaimed the doom of the
British Empire. She forecast the dissolu-
tion Of the great structure; she gambled
on the selfshness of the democracies be-
yond the seas that owned British allie
glance Australia responded at Gallipol,
Canada IN Flanders, South Africa amid
The ruins Of German empire in Africa,
and after the army the people Of Canada
have by their voice Endorsed the action Of
their sons.
We in the United States look with admit
ration and gratitude 10 our northern
neighbor. She has blazed the trail for US
in Europe. Her sons, with not few Of
ours enlisted under her colors. have car
ried the spirit Of America TO the battle
neids Of Europe. Tardily, but net too
late. our own armies are coming up. In
time we shall bear part in the great
battle for human liberty. May it be as
splendid as Canadas part-it cannot be
more glorious
Meantime for those at home Canada
has aisr pointed duty Snd furnished an