Page:Canadian Appeal for the Widows and Orphans of the South African War.djvu/2

 determined and intrepid adversary in defence of Liberty and Justice.

The occasion was ripe for the course taken. The spirit of the times called for this spontaneous demonstration of lealty and loyalty. History will record on the brightest page that tells the story of British achievements, its appropriateness, and declare its effectiveness.

The time had arrived when it became expedient to let the world know, and particularly those European Nations that are constantly barking at the heels of Britain, (they would bite if they dared), that she has at her back, and ready, aye always ready at her gentlest call, a united Colonial Empire, vast in extent, boundless in resource, and peopled by a race determined of resolution, swift in performance, and if you will permit the expression, stubborn of will, at all events when right is involved, and that the inhabitants of these mighty and powerful countries must also be dealt with, and in the event of attempted oppression of the mother land, or unwarrantable interference in her affairs, the cubs beyond the sea would, with stentorian voice, proclaim in the hearing of all mankind, this patriotic defiance:

When'er the Fates on our Empire frown, While an envious world looks on; At the hint of change to land or Crown, Or of fields to be fought and won; Then from the corners of the earth, And borne upon every breeze. Comes a growl, proclaiming; the ties of birth. From the cubs beyond the sea.

From the plains of the "Queen of the snows" they come; From the Isles of the Torrid Zone; From the farthest land where the "morning drum" Tells of their Queen and Home: When the lion roars as he meets the foe, And gathers to leap and seize. With an answering roar to the battle go The cubs from beyond the seas.

Oh! ne'er shall the land that can breed such sons. That can boast such a litter of cubs. E'er sink to a nation that fights and runs. That shrinks from the hardest rubs! The flag that for Home and Freedom stands Shall ever face the breeze. Cherished and kept by the strong right hands Of the cubs beyond the seas.

The action of the Government of Britain in making reply to the ultimatum of the Republic of the Transvaal, which was couched in impudent and defiant language, indicating overweening conceit, and lamentable ignorance of palpable facts, by pointing the cannon's mouth towards Pretoria, its metropolis, requires no defence from us.

Did it call for apology or justification, we could truthfully make response that this frightful carnival of slaughter was entered upon, not for purposes of aggression, not with views of conquest, not to extend the boundaries of the Empire, not to subjugate or humilate a proud and courageous, but ignorant and overbearing people, but to protect the soil of Britain from the tread of foreign foe, and to establish upon a basis that would likely be enduring in its character the sacred principles that are associated with the unrestrained and untrammeled enjoyment of human freedom and Christian civilization.

While we rejoice with exceeding joy in the exhibition of loyalty that has been shown in so unmistakeable a manner, to exist throughout this land from centre to circumference, pervading to our sister colonies, and in the splendid examples of gallantry and heroism displayed by the Sons of Canada, there is mingled with our happiness a feeling of deepest sorrow and regret when we reflect upon the tact that so many of our compatriots have found an eternal place of rest far, far away from the land they loved so well, and from all the hallowed associations that cluster around that consecrated spot called Home—Home, sweet, sweet Home.

We have been taught by the very highest authority, an authority no mortal dare question, because it is divine, that "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Our fellow-countrymen exemplified in their death the highest, truest, noblest form of love. They died for their country. Their country was their friend.

They did their duty well, and compelled the admiration of their superiors in arms. They never flinched. They were ordered to advance. They advanced. They did not reason why. They marched with head erect, with undaunted courage and impetuous zeal to victory and to death, and through that portal to everlasting fame. They emulated the example of a hero of the days of long ago. Sir Richard Grenville, who as he lay dying upon the bloody deck of his ship after an immortal fight, manifested the invincibility of his nature even then: