The situation that Lincoln describes is very much the situation in
Canada. The blood that was shed by valiant Canadians at Ypres, and
Givenchy and Festubert and on the Somme, at Vimy Ridge and before Lens,
will have been shed in vain if an inglorious peace is imposed upon
Britain and her Allies and the German people strengthened in allegiance
to a dynasty which will vex mankind with its pretentions, conspiracies
and infamies until it is destroyed. Moreover, as long as Germany has
power to fill the earth with apprehension Governments will continue
their eager competition in armaments and high expenditures for defence.
The war is for safety as well as for freedom, and upon its result the
free institutions of Canada depend. If it was the unanimous judgment
of Parliament that Canada should enter the war, and if among the people
there was universal approval of the action of Parliament, how can we
withdraw until victory is achieved? How can we continue in the war
unless we can maintain and reinforce the regiments in the field? How
can we get men except by command of the State when the persuasion of
the State has ceased to be effective? There are those who talk wildly
about “driving men to slaughter.” But more than 400,000 of the sons of
Canada have driven themselves to “slaughter,” and because they have
done so our homes and institutions have been secure.