The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1914. THE DESTINY OF CANADA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 170, 17 January 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1914. THE DESTINY OF CANADA.

London, Ontario, is not quite a mighty metropolis to which men look for light and leading on. questions of imperial concern; '"but it has just sprung into some prominence because of speeches tliat were delivered there at a dinner in celebration of St. Andrew's Day. Two toasts—one to 'The Empire" and the other to '•Canada"—were the occasion of the speeches. Mr. Bourassa, the leader of the Quebec Nationalists, in proposing the first, dealt upon the growing tendency to impose one standard of patriotism for the Empire, wJiose people and circumstances were so diverse.. This led to a spirit of intolerance. He also emphasised the danger that the liberty aiwl Autonomy of the Dominion would be restricted. These are the well-known arguments of those who dream of Can- ; ada iheing a separate nation. Mr. Bourl nssa fairly stated the views of a not inconisidcruiolo number of Canadians; but ! the opinions and aspirations of the nniI jority Were undoubtedly voiced by Dr. Fallon, the Roman Catholic Bishop of London (Ontario), in proposing the toast of "Canada," He, clearly showed I that there were three possibilities in front of Canada—annexation, independ-' ence, or Imperial federation- . 'He set aside annexation as undesirable, and the idea of independence as fatuous in itself or ftyse to the higher destiny of Canada. ' The independence of a nation of ten millions alongside another of n hundred millions could be no better than o hollow mockery. The' independence of Cu'ba or Mexico was not n political reality. The worst of Canadian independence would be when the inevitable day of foreign invasion came, when Canada might have to suffer for having failed to face her higher and nobler destiny. The trno course for Canadians was to pursue "sonic, scheme for making permanent the, bonds which now 'bind to- ) golhcr the scattered portions of the Empire, and through which we may nobly discharge those obligations common to all." lie was not afraid of the phrase "Imperial federation." It was quite us practical as annexation or independence. If you could not federate the Empire because its parts were unlike, then neither could you federate Canada, even under independence. There was no greater unlikeness; taken as a whole, 'between Australia and New Zealand, on I the one Jiand, and Canada on the other, than between the Kastern and Western provinces of Canada, or between Ontario I and Quebec. These remarks of Bishop 1 Fallon are all the more notable, coming j from a man in his position; lor, naturally, tho French Canadians, who are mostly Roman Catholics, arc largely imbued with Nationalist aspirations. Spiritual leaders are not always reliable political guides; (but in this instance the Bishop is decidedly sounder than Mr. Bourassa. The safe and sensible course for Canada, as for Australia, New Zealand and .South Africa, is to remain in the great Empire of which they form part. The dread of losing liberty of action is a false alarm. By remaining in the Empire, the oversea dominions need not lose an iota of their freedom and practical independence On the contrary, their larger ideas of liberty will extend to those parts of the Empire that are still lagging behind. The inspiring thing that is fitted to crush out. all desire for separation is the thought that, in a very few years, the oversea dominions will ibe the dominant partners in the Empire and will therefore act on and continue to control their own destinies, .but will also shape the destinies of the British people everywhere.