street into a professional football club or lacrosse or hockey club and expect them to succeed, as to send untrained soldiers against highly-organised troops. We must train these men here and in Great Britain; they must be hardened, and brought into such physical condition that they can undergo the hardships of actual service under the conditions which must be present there without breaking down. And understand, that if this training of the men is important, the training of the officers is still more essential, because they are responsible in a certain sense for the lives of the men whom they lead. And the training of the officers is a much more complicated matter than the training of the men. And I say this with the most sincere admiration and appreciation of the splendid spirit with which the officers of the active militia of Canada have undertaken to learn their duties and fit themselves for the work which is before them now. I am speaking in no critical spirit at all, but simply endeavouring to impress upon you, in the first place, that the training of the men is all-important, and in the next place, that the training of the officers is all-essential; and what has gone on at Valcartier Camp, what is going on under such splendid organisation here, is absolutely necessary, and must be supplemented still further by training of the men after they reach the other side. I hope you understand and appreciate that.

Now I know that in the South African War men went perhaps without a great deal of training; but without professing to understand military affairs as many men here understand them, I think the conditions which have to be faced in this war are very different. I say that with all deference to the opinion of men who are better qualified to judge. With reference to the Civil War in the nation to the south of us, men on both sides learned by experience on the field how to fight and to perform their duties as soldiers. But it would be too costly to think of sending our men to learn their duties that way.

When any one suggests that Canada should send 150,000 or 200,000 men at once, let me say that those men, in my judgment, would not only be an incubus but a positive danger; whereas if trained and adequately prepared they

will do their part well. I have every confidence in the spirit of courage and endurance of the citizen soldiers of Canada, and all they need is training and preparation to make them capable of acquitting themselves with credit not only to the Dominion but to the armies of the Empire as well.

This has been a great test of the national spirit, and Canada has emerged triumphant. The people have responded, contributions have flowed from all over Canada, great contributions from your city and others, to the Patriotic Funds. I am sure it is a splendid thing to have lived to see this national spirit, and I have spoken of all the work of the women with their desire to help, their model self-sacrifice. Different ideals are put on one side. Races and creeds of the most divergent type have joined together. There has been a splendid spirit. The unity of the Empire has been demonstrated, as well as the unity of this Dominion. And perhaps we may say that we owe this at least to the Kaiser, that the unity of this great Empire has been demonstrated to his satisfaction, I think, and certainly to the satisfaction of others.

I sincerely believe the German people did believe the British race was decadent, that this Empire was a sham and deserved to be destroyed, and that this colossus with feet of clay only needed to be attacked to fall prone at the feet of the Germans. Do the fields of Belgium and France tell you the British race is decadent? I have confidence and belief that the record of Canada will be as worthy as that of the British Isles. The Empire was to fall apart; India was to revolt; the self-governing dominions were to stand aside; Ireland was to go into rebellion. instead, the whole Empire has become tense with unity again. This is the answer Canada and the Empire have given to the Kaiser. And that is the answer which they will give him to the end!

But

Now in speaking of all this, I do not want you to think that I do not appreciate all that the world has owed to German thought and achievement in the past. In every branch of art, science, literature, every useful phase of human activity, the Germans have been well to the front. Although I understand and appreciate further in the German people

that habit of unquestioned obedience to the dominant Prussian spirit, greatly perhaps to their cost, still I can say this war is really waged against the military autocracy which dominates Germany to-day, while I say that the destruction of that military oligarchy means much to the world, and more to Germany itself; and the German people, therefore, when freed from that dominance imposed upon them by Prussia, may have a future of greatness even surpassing that which they have achieved in the past.

Now I am very thankful indeed to have had the opportunity of speaking to you to-day. Let me allude to the German people in our own dominion. I would like to pay a tribute to what has been done in Canada by Canadian citizens of German descent. I remember the mayor of a city in the western part of Ontario, a city whose population is almost altogether composed of citizens of German descent, coming to me in Ottawa and saying that their purpose was to make a contribution in that city to the Patriotic Fund greater per capita than that of any other city in Canada. They have accomplished, or nearly accomplished, what was proposed at that time. And as far as concerns those who have been brought to this country upon the invitation of the people of Canada and the government, Germans and Austrians who have come to make this country their home, I desire to say, that I have been very closely in touch with them, and they have given every satisfaction; with very few exceptions their conduct has been exemplary and all that could be desired. They will make good citizens of Canada, they and their children. I am sure we realise the trying situation in which they must be placed. One of them was telling me how he almost got into a fight with a neighbour over the question, and he said to his neighbour, I know I am wrong; forgive me; but there is something in my heart-I have tried to get it out, and I can't get it out.' You appreciate what that feeling would be for a man whose relatives are still natives and citizens of Germany or Austria. So I think we owe to these people consideration and fairness.

Your Honour, Mr. Mayor, and Gentlemen, I must tell you how deeply I feel the honour of being privileged to speak to you to-day. In conclusion, let me say that Canada,

I believe, is united in the strong conviction that our cause is just, and in the inflexible determination to make it triumphant. I believe that that is the spirit of Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. And our people realise fully that this terrific conflict was not of Britain's seeking. Let me say just one word as to what may be the result in the future. No one can tell the fortunes of war. I believe this war can have only one conclusion. But reverses may come, and if they do come, it should be our watchword and that of the people of Canada, this must only inspire us with deeper courage and greater determination. Our fortitude and

endurance must equal all demands which the future shall make upon us. All that our forefathers fought for and achieved, all that we have inherited and accomplished, our institutions and liberties, our destiny as a nation, the existence of our Empire, all are at stake in this conflict. And I am confident that the resolution, the determination, the self-reliance, the resourcefulness, which never failed Canada in the stress and trials of the past, will assuredly not fail her now!