New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
OurBrOther
of the North
BY Geraldine Bonner
of the Vigilantes
~ THE boundary line between
Canada and tho United S+a4as

~ THE boundary line between
Canada and the United States
there stands DO fort From ocean
to ocean the line runs unguarded. the
league-long burrows of the Canadian
prairies touch the border where the
league-long burrows of the American
prairies begin Where the line crosses
the great mountain spine no fortified
tons crown the heights or Command
the valleys, there has been no fear in
mems hearts to set them raising bull
warks one against tn other
Over the line Canadians and Amer
cans fraternize as neighbors do over
the back fence. Sometimes they cross
from one side and settle on the other
The stocky Kanuck from Quebec Prov
ince moves into Name and raises his
log house among the pines; ranchers
from Montana and Dakota 20 north
ward to till the ricn plains Of Alberta
and Manitoba They intermarry and
the children arc Canadians or Amer
cans. They might just as we'll be one
as the ether
For there is no lurking suspicion, no
yelled distrust between US and our
brother Of the North We are of the
same race. live by the same ideals. wor-
ship the same God.
OF all our national relationships our
closest is with him. He is not only our
nearest neiehb Dor, but lie is our nearest
Of kin. We have had jars with him
disagreements that happen in the best
families quarrelled and made up, shak
ing hands across the line in sports
nanlike good fellowship. There have
been times when We envled him the
riches of his vast empire yet to come,
his we'll administered laws, his thrifty
competence where we have been care
less and slovenly. MS sturdy honesty.
Our younger brother was doing a good
many things better than we were and
It made US sore.
The Teutonic mind has made endless
blunders. but none greater than that
the British colonies would not respond
10 the mother countrys cry for help.
Anyone VINO knows the Dominion who
has sojourned there and come TO under
stand its strong-souled people. knew
what its reply would be. Neither gen
erations Of self government nor time
nor distance could weaken the old ties
or the old loyalty. And deeper than the
call of the blood the instinct to
fight for what made life possible free
dom in a free world. The Canadians
rose from desk and bench. locked the
shop and closed he ledger left the
plough in the furrow and the pick in the
mine breast. not alone 10 help England
in her need but 20 preserve the creed
that their race has lived r. since John
met the berons at Runnymede
What our brother Of the North did n
France and Flanders is now matter OF
history Writ larger than the Plains
Of Abraham are Ynres and Loos. from
this time forth names Of heroic invoca-
ton. We followed his splendid, bloody
progress with tug az the heart and
a longing to be beside him, sharing the
anguish and the glory. proving our
selves Of the same invincible spirit
Our waiting became intolerable while
he. the younger, made his magnificent
effort, showing US the way. And now
We are there. shoulder 70 shoulder with
him. nj last brothers in the field. as We
have always been brothers IN blood. in
aspiration. IN all that makes up the ira
dton Of the Anglo Saxon race.