reigners. He said "improperly"
because whatever their origin, whether Ruthenian, Swede, French, German,
or whatever their race might be, here they were simply Canadians with
all the rights of Canadian citizenship assured to them. He was glad to
see so many of his German friends present. They represent a great nation
whose achievements in every department of human activity, in learning,
in industrial enterprise, in commerce, were the envy and admiration of
the world (excursus here in glorification of the great German people):
To these, his German fellow citizens, he would say that no matter how
deep their devotion to the Vaterland (Mr. Jones pronounced it with a
"v") he knew they would be loyal citizens of Canada. The German Empire
had its differences and disagreements with Great Britain, the American
Republic has had the same, and indeed it was possible that there were a
number present who might not cherish any very passionate regard for the
wealthy, complaisant, self-contained somewhat slow-going old gentleman,
John Bull. But here in Canada, we were all Canadians! First, last and
all the time, Canadians (great applause). Whatever might be said of
other countries, their wealth, their power, their glory, Canada was
good enough for him (more applause, followed by a further elaboration of
Canada's vast resources, etc., etc.). Canada's future was unclouded by
the political complications and entanglements of the older countries in
Europe. For one hundred years they had been at peace with the Republic
south of that imaginary line which delimited the boundaries, but which
did not divide the hearts of these two peoples (great applause). For
his part, while he rejoiced in the greatness of the British Empire he
believed that Canada's first duty was to herself, to the developing here
of a strong and sturdy national spirit. Canada for Canadians, Canada
first, these were the motives that had guided his life both in public
service and as a private citizen (loud applause). In this country there
was a place for all, no matter from what country they came, a place for
the Ruthenian (enumeration of the various European and Asiatic states
from which potential citizens of Canada had come). Let us join hands
and hearts in building up a great empire where our children, free
from old-world entanglements, free to develop in our own way our own
institutions (eloquent passages on freedom) in obedience to laws of
our own making, defended by the stro