The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-02-22

Benjamin r. Showalter
Canada and the United States
have more than material contribu-
tions to make. Each is young nation
with all of the vigor and vitality of
youth. Each was settled by men and
women who came here because they
were seeking something they could
not have where they were. They came
wanting things and opportunities
which they could not enjoy in the
mother country They came to raw
new land. They had to develop new
ways of doing things. new relation
ships. Old social barriers were wiped
out by the frontier. Out of the strug-
gle to convert a great wilderness into
habitable land was born something
new under the sun, the American
ideal of freedom and liberty and JUS
tice for all. Between these two coun-
tries there stretches only an invisible
line.
"Athough the area Of Canada is
greater than that of the United States
to the south. she has less than a tenth
of our population. In spite of her
great industrial development in re-
cent years. Canada is to be numbered
among the smaller nations of the
earth. That fact may prove to be Of
great significance, especially among
the nations of the Western Hemis-
phere. Just as the war has given to
the United States for the second time
in generation the opportunity to
exercise significant leadership in
world affairs, so too has it brought
to Canada the opportunity for con-
structive leadership.
Last year l spent four weeks in
Canada. During this time | was in
daily association with the political,
economic, and social leaders of that
great country. Wherever | went |
found an active concern as to what
role the United States would play in
the postwar world For the first time
| really saw my country through the
eyes of people of another land. ! had
always been proud of her | loved her
and believed in my heart that she
was a great nation. had not known,
though, the sincerity with which other
peoples believed her to be great.
did not know the anxiety with which
they watch her, acknowledging her
stature yet fearing that, once again,
she might throw away the great po-
tentiality for leadership which is hers
once again. Again and again | en-
countered this thought, always adroit-
ly expressed to avoid offense, Does
America yet realize that with great
power and authority goes great res
ponsibiity?' Everywhere | went
found definite realization that the
destiny of Canada is tied more closely
with that of the United States than
with that of any other country. In the
peace councils and in the international
organization that may be set up, Can
ada will be standing with the United
States. That is what will make the
roles Of the United States and Canada
so significant, the one among the
great powers, the other among the
smaller"
The speaker also declared that
America had a great opportunity in
her dealings with the nations of the
Orient which look hopefully to Ameri-
ca for such action in council of
nations that all people may have an
opportunity to grow into richer
fuller life than any they have known
before.
He defined the role of the English
speaking people of North America as
that of "hOlding fast to the ideals and
practices that were born in the New
World that all people everywhere may
come to enjoy them too"
Among the questions answered dur.
ing the discussion period which fol
lowed was "whether or not there was
possibility that Canada and the
United States would become a politi
cal unity" Mr. Showalter said he
felt there was a definite feeling OF
closeness between the two nations anC
that a future political unity was I
distinct possibility