[boueinot] BUILDEES OF NOVA SCOTIA 177 



swords and founded dynasties, in France, Italy and England. Yet we are apt 

 to fOTget that Sweden and Norway together have but four million three hundred 

 and six thousand six hundred and fifty souls, and that the mingled blood of the 

 Scandinavian and the Saxon courses through their veins. The men who are 

 felling pine trees upon the Saguenay, or catching fish in our Baltic would make 

 good sea kings to-morrow, if plunder and not commerce were the order of the 

 day. Let us, in Heaven's name, then, throw aside our stupid devotion to his- 

 toric contemplation and look the realities ot our own position fairly in the face. 

 Sir, I have spoken of Switzerland, but I forgot one striking fact ; that with a 

 population less than that of British America at this moment, she has not only 

 maintained her nationality, but has sent armed warriors to fight the battles of 

 half the states of Europe. 



Let me now turn yooir attemtion to South America. Here we find a 

 cluster of states, certainly not more inteUigent or miore deserving, but all 

 challenging and enjoying a higher status than our own. Let us group them : — 



People. 



Venezuela 1,000,000 



New Granada 1.678,000 



Eauador 600,000 



Peru 1,373,000 



Bolivia 1,700,000 



Chili , 1,200,000 



Buenos Ayres 675,000 



Some of these countries are, im education and political knowledge, beneath 

 contiempt, not one of them contains twO' milUons of people, yet all of them 

 not only manage or mismanage their internal affairs, but form alliances, 

 exchange diplomatic representatives, and control their foreign relations. Is 

 there a British statesman then, with a head on his shoulders, who, looking 

 at what North America is, and must become, but must feel the necessity for 

 binding her to the empire by some enlightened provision for the protection 

 of her material interests for the gratification of her legitimate ambition ? 



Sir, a country must have resources as well as breadth of- soil. Are we 

 destitute of these ? I think not. Between the extremes of cold and heat lies 

 a broad region peculiarly adapted for the growth o"f wheat. About half of 

 this, the peninsula formed by the great lakes, helongs ito Canada. Thei soil 

 of Lower Canada, of New Brunswick and of Prince Edward Island, if less 

 fertile, is still productive. Boundless forests supply with materials for ships 

 and with an inexhaustible export. Are there no mineral resources ? I believe 

 that the riches of the copper mines of Lake Superior have scarcely yet been 

 dreamed of. We know that in the lower provinces we have iron and coal in 

 abundance. I have spoken of the St. Lawrence, but have we no other navig- 

 able rivers ? What shall we say of the noble Ottawa, the beautiful Richelieu, 

 the deep Saguenay ? What of the broad Miramichi, of the lovely St. John ? 

 Nova Scotia, being nearly an island has no mighty rivers, but she has what 

 is better than them all— open hattlDOurs throughout the year. She has old 

 ocean wrapping her around with loving embraoements ; drawing down from 

 every creek and cove and harbour her children to share the treasures of an 

 exhaustless fishery, or to carry commodities across her bosom. Though not 

 large, how beautiful and diversified are the lakes and streams which every- 

 where gladden the eye, and give to our country water carriage and water power 

 in 'every section of the interior. Already Nova Scotia has shown what she 

 can draw from a soil of generous fertility. What she can do upon the sea. 

 Sir, I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, and my head will be cold, 

 long before my prediction is verified ; but I know that the day must come 



Sec. II., 1899. 12, 



