[Speech of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Premier of Canada, at a banquet given by
the Imperial Institute to the Colonial Premiers, London, June 18,
1897, on the occasion of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee. The Prince of
Wales presided. In introducing Sir Wilfrid Laurier, he said:
"Gentlemen, this is not the time nor is it necessary to allude to the
loyalty of our great colonies. We have heard what has been spoken here
to-night, and we shall hear still more. We know that our colonies look
toward the mother country with affection; and in the hour of need and
danger I feel convinced that they will always come forward to our
assistance. [Cheers.] During the remarkable record reign of Her
Majesty the Queen great changes have occurred. When she came to the
throne, there were only thirty-two colonies; now there are sixty-five.
[Cheers.] As Lord Lansdowne has said we have met here in times of
peace. God grant that it may last, but should the occasion come when
our national flag is endangered I have but little doubt, gentlemen,
that the colonies will unite like one man to maintain what exists and
what I hope will remain forever as integral parts of the British
Empire. It is now my pleasant duty to propose the toast of the
evening: 'Our Guests the Colonial Premiers.' We welcome them as
ourselves. We hope that their stay here may not be made in any way
irksome to them. I feel sure that no one will be more grateful than
the Queen herself to see that these gentlemen have come here on the
invitation of the Colonial Office to do honor to a great epoch in our
history. This toast we connect with the health of the Hon. Wilfrid
Laurier. I now beg you with all the honors to drink this toast--'Our
Guests, I may say, our friends, the Colonial Premiers.'"]
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN:--The toast which
your Royal Highness has just proposed in such graceful terms is one
which is important at all times and opens a subject which at the present
time perhaps more than at any other engrosses and absorbs the minds of
all thinking men. ["Hear! Hear!"] During the few days in which my
colleagues and myself have had the privilege to be in England, we have
had hourly evidences that the Colonies at the present moment occupied no
small part in the affections of the people of England. [Cheers.] Sir,
Colonies were born to become nations. In my own country, and perhaps
also in England, it has been observed that Canada has a population which
in some instances exceeds, in many others, rivals the populations of
independent nations, and it has been said that perhaps the time might
come when Canada might become a nation of itself. My answer is this
simply: Canada is a nation. [Cheers.] Canada is free, and freedom is its
nationality. Although Canada acknowledges the suzerainty of a Sovereign
Power, I am here to say that independence can give us no more rights
than we have at present. ["Hear! Hear!"]
Lord Lansdowne has spoken of a day when perhaps our Empire might be in
danger. England has proved at all times that she can fight her own
battles, but if a day were ever to come when England was in danger, let
the bugle sound, let the fires be lit, on the hills and in all parts of
the Colonies, though we might not be able to do much, whatever we can do
shall be done by the Colonies to help her. [Cheers.] From all parts of
this country since I have been here, both in conversation and in
letters, I have been asked if the sentiments of the French population of
Canada were characterized by absolute loyalty towards the British
Empire. I have been reminded that feuds of race are long and hard to
die, and that the feuds of France--the land of my ancestors--with
England have lasted during many generations. Let me say at once that
though it be true that the wars of France and England have their place
in history, it was the privilege of the men of our generation to see the
banners of France and England entwined together victoriously on the
banks of the Alma, on the heights of Inkerman, and on the walls of
Sebastopol. [Cheers.]
It is true that during the last century and the century before, a long
war, a long duel, I might call it, was waged between England and France
for the possession of North America, but in the last battle that took
place on the plains of Abraham, both generals, the one who won and the
one who failed, fell. If you go to the city of Quebec, you will see a
monument erected in commemoration of that battle. What is the character
of that monument? Monuments to record victories are not scarce in
England or in France; but such a monument as this which is in Quebec, I
do not think you will find in any other part of the world, for it is a
monument not only to him who won but also to him who failed. [Cheers.]
It is a monument dedicated to the memory of Wolfe and Montcalm, and the
dedication, which is one of the noblest and best of the kind, not only
for the sentiments which it records but also as a literary expression,
is as follows: "_Mortem virtus communem famam historia monumentum
posteritas dedit_." Here is a monument to the two races equal in fame,
courage, and glory, and that equality exists at the present time in
Canada. In this you have the sentiments of my countrymen--we are equal
to-day with those who won on the battle-field on the plains of Abraham.
It is by such acts that England has won the hearts of my
fellow-countrymen; it is by such acts that she can ever claim our
loyalty. Your Royal Highness, let me now thank you from the bottom of my
heart for the kind words you have just spoken. Your Royal Highness has
been kind enough to remind us that at one time in its earlier day you
visited Canada. Many changes have taken place since that time, but let
me assure your Royal Highness there has been no change in the loyalty of
the people of Canada. [Cheers.]