ike thing the Cher-r-rman lairnin' is doin', and ye can
ask Mr. Rhye yonder. An' other things the Cher-r-rmans are doin' that
keep us all from restin' quiet in our beds. Let them come her-r-re to us
if they will. Let them come from all the countries of the ear-r-rth.
We will share wi' them what we haf, provided they will be behavin'
themsel's and mindin' their peeziness. But this man is sayin' somethin'
more. He is tellin' us how safe we are, an' that the great Republic
south o' us will be guar-r-rdin' us frae our enemies. I doubt it will
be the fox guar-r-rdin' the chicken frae the weasel. Now I'll ask this
gentleman what it is that has guar-r-rded these shores for the past two
hundred and fifty year-r-rs? I will tell him--the Br-r-ritish Navy. What
has kept the peace of Europe once an' again? The Br-r-ritish Navy.
Aye, what has protected America not once or twice frae her enemies? The
Br-r-ritish Navy, an' that same Br-r-ritish Navy is gude enough fer me."

The tumultuous din that followed the conclusion of the cantankerous
little Highlander's speech was beyond all words, but before the chairman
could get to his feet, through the uproar a voice strident with passion
was demanding a hearing. "Mr. Ernest Switzer has the floor," said the
chairman.

The young man's face was white and his voice shaking when he began. "Mr.
Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I stand here to claim the fair play that
you say is British for myself and for my race. I am a Canadian citizen.
I was born in America, but my blood is German. As a Canadian citizen,
as an American by birth, as a German by blood, I have been insulted
to-night, and I demand the right to reply to the man who has insulted
me. There are Canadians here to guard their own honour; the Americans
can be trusted to protect themselves. Germany is not here to refute the
slanders uttered against her, but I claim the honour to speak for that
great nation, for she is a great nation. There is none greater. There is
none so great in the world to-day." The young man's voice rang out with
passionate conviction, his pale set face, his blue eyes flaming with
rage proclaimed the intensity of his emotion. Before his flaming passion
the audience was subdued into a silence tense and profound. "What has
Germany done for the world? this man asks. I would like to ask in reply
where he has lived for the last twenty-five years, and if during those
years he has read anything beyond his local newspaper? W