Under national service “conscript” has no invidious meaning. It is
expunged from the language. As Lincoln said, failure to volunteer
does not necessarily imply want of patriotism. Who has the right to
judge his neighbor? Who fully understands his neighbor’s position?
If we think of our school days we will recall the boys who had a
natural instinct for fighting. We will think, too, of those who
shrank from rough physical encounters, and were almost suspected of
actual cowardice. But how often in emergencies those under suspicion
of cowardice revealed courage and daring at least equal to their
more pugnacious comrades. They would, perhaps, be the last to join a
volunteer fire brigade but, if occasion required, they would fight a
fire as courageously and resolutely as their adventurous associates.
The new regiments to go forward under the Military Service Act will
perform deeds of valor equal to any that have glorified Canadian arms.
There will be Military Crosses for many of those who found it hard to
decide between private and public duty. “I will give unto this last
even as unto thee.”