The Dominion. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1914. THE SPIRIT OP THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2281, 15 October 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1914. THE SPIRIT OP THE EMPIRE.

The splendid'loyalty of the, Canadian people is impressively illustrated by the foote stated in two cable messages published in- another column of this issue. One of them announces that the strength of tho Overseas Forces of Canada is. to be brought up to IOO.OOQ men, and tho other states that the sum of £20,000 given by the Canadian women has been devoted to the purchase of. motor ambulances. These two items of news, even if they stood alone, would provide a striking proof—ii it- were necessary to prove what no one can seriously doubt—of Canada's whole-hearted determination to bear her full share of the burden of the war., But she has shown her earnestness in many other, ways. She has also given tw.o submarines, and a million sacks of flour; Alberta' Province has given half a million bushels of Province, four million pounds of cheese; and Nova Scotia 100,000 tons of coal. The women of Canada havo given a hospital ship, and two Canadians have i Britain with two batteries.

It is i a fine record—and the spirit that is moving Canada is moving tho whole Empire. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the part New Zealand is playing, and we all know that Australia is just as loyal and enthusia^-

tic as we are, while the magnificent way in which the peoplo of India have responded to the Empire's oall has impressed the whole world. A striking example of the manner in which racial and religious obstacles to unity have been overcome is provided by the fact that at a recent Mohammedan festival the Mosques throughout India were thronged with worshippers praying for British victory. The only regrettable incident of any importance is the. trouble caused by a small section of irreconcilables in South Africa. The •action of a. Boer officer in joining the Germans and in seeking to foster a spirit of rebellion throughout the Union is, of course, an unpleasant episode, but the South African authorities are well able to deal with the situation, and seem quite determined to suppress anything in the nature of rebellion. Martial law has been proclaimed and the situation appears to be well in hand. Tho great Boer leaders—General Smuts and General Botha—whose names are familiar to the King's subjects in all parts of the world, have already made it quite plain that the Empire's quarrel is their quarrel, and one of the nephews of General Delarey -is also preparing ! to take part in the fight against the King's enemies. The cable messages indicate that the. disaffection is not widespread, and it will almost certainly stimulate the' enthusiasm of the great mass of. the people whose loyalty cannot- be doubted. In Canada the French section of the population is 'quite as resolute as their fellow countrymen of Bri-, 'tish descent in supporting the Motherland in the present war. All sectional differences have been- forgotten. "In Canada there is-but ono mind," said-Sir Wilfrid Laurier in a recent speech in Parliament. He declared there was not a British subject in the _ world who was not prouder of his citizenship than ever before, and whoso admiration for England was not greater on account of her noble and firm attitude. In

no part of the Empire has the unifying influence of the war been more pronounced than in Canada, and it cannot fail to leave a permanent mark on the history of the nation. Evory British community has loarned that the things about which all parties and sections are in agreement are far more numerous and

important than those about which they differ. The barriers whicli have been broken down by the need for

co-operation in the face of a common 'danger will never again be raised quite so high as they were ■ before' Tho British peoples are going to work together more extensively than hitherto for their mutual benefit in commerce as well as

defence.- Tho collapse of the German export business gives_ us a splendid opportunity of realising the ideal of a self-supporting Empire. The Canadians are moving in this direction. They are not content with providing men and money to the armed forces of the enemy; but with characterise energy and thoroughness thoy are also determined to' make war upon German commerce, The Minister of Trade is taking vigorous stops to capture -the enomios' trade for Canadian manufacturers, not only in. Canada itself, but also in South America and other parts of tho .world.-This is tho right spirit in which to meet such a crisis as that_ through which the Empire is passing, and; if the other Overseas Dominions and the .United Kingdom carry on this trade war in an energetic, intelligent, and systematic manner a great commercial victory may confidently be expected'.