The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1911. A NOBLE IDEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 284, 24 April 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1911. A NOBLE IDEAL.

While an alarmist here and there is suggesting that British dominions may "cut the painter" unless the dominions have a louder "say" in matters of vital moment, it is refreshing to observe a disposition to effect permanent international friendships. The Empire owes a good deal to a certain American poltician, who predicted that the reciprocity agreement between Canada and the United States was merely a prelude to the annexation of Canada by its neighbor. He lighted a spark that fired the pride of Canadians and warmed the national spirit, while it forced from the French-Canadian Premier, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a notable expression of the aspirations of the people on British-American territory. The Prime Minister settled definitely the question of allegience to the idea of complete nationhood and loyalty to the Mother nation. "If my poor voice could be heard throughout the length and breadth of this country," he said, "and if without any presumption it could be heard also beyond the frontier, I would say to our American neighbors . . . remember that we Canadians were born under the same flag as your ancestors, a flag under which perhaps you may have suffered some oppression, but which to us has been and is more than ever the emblem of freedom. Remember that if you have founded a nation upon separation from the Mother Land, we Canadians have set our hearts upon building up a nation without separation." Sir Wilfrid Laurier did not mention tfiat the Empire would disrupt if an Empire Parliament were not set up in London wherein Canadians might air their opinions about matters having nothing to do with Canada. He exhibited the true humility of greatness in acknowledging that Canada had received its germ of success from the Home Land, and would not in its youthful vigor desert its parent. He settled in a few words the heresy that because a few discontents favor "cutting the painter," a whole nation is aching to be swallowed by a neighbor and anxious to accept foreign domination. "Remember that if you are a proud people," he said, speaking "across the border," as it were, "though we are not of your numbers, we are just as proud as you arc, and that rather than part with our national existence we would part with our lives." The Canadian statesman did not mention the national existence of Canada as distinct from her existence as part of the British Empire, nor has lie ever descended to the littleness of threatening Britain with separation. The outstanding feature, however, of the Canadian Prime Minister's declaration is his intense desire for brotherhood with Canada's next-door neighbor, a matter far more important from an international standpoint than the settlement, of inter-dominion matters. An agreement between Canada and the United States is an agreement between Britain and those two great countries. It is a recognition, not only of the brotherhood of people in one scattered Empire, but of the brotherhood of nations. Tt is a sped from which a more widespread fraternity may grow, an example to European nations, who, watching its success, may see a wav out of the ceaseless international turmoil that so hampers a world-wide and peaceful relationship. "If my voice could be heard that far," wound up the statesman in his memorable speech, "T would presume to say to our American friends, there may bo a spectacle of a united continent, a spectacle which would astound the world bv its novelty and grandeur, the spectacle of two peoples living side by side for a distance of 4000 miles, a line which is hardly visible in many quarters, with not a cannon, not

a gun frowning across it, with not a fortress on either side, with no armament one against the other, but living in harmony, in mutual confidence, and with no other rivalry than generous emulation in commerce and the arts of peace." Realise that ideal in Europe and you obtain what no Imperial Conference can hope to achieve —cessation of much strife.