XXX THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



and the Empire and something to be said appropriate to both, is what 

 troubles me now and perhaps will trouble you as much as it troubles 

 me before I get through with my remarks. 



I suppose one might start out by saying that since 1867 both 

 the Empire and the Confederation have grown. Neither of them 

 fifty years ago was anything like what it is to-day. Ours, I believe, 

 was the first confederation of portions of the British Empire coming 

 together to form young nations, binding themselves together by 

 common links, which should steady them in their younger years and, 

 strengthening with their growth, keep them firmly together as the 

 years progressed. Fifty years ago it may have been speculatively 

 thinkable as to what would happen when a confederacy like oui own 

 began to feel its oats and to learn that it had strength in esse and 

 powers in future capable of the greatest development; and there 

 were many, very many, in all portions of the Empire I suppose, 

 who looked, as if they feared some grave dénouement, with a good 

 deal of anxiety to what might happen when the young confederacy 

 became a grown-up. As others followed suit in other portions of the 

 British Empire the apprehension was added to rather than diminished, 

 as to what would happen when all these little ones became grown-ups, 

 and felt their own power. What would their future tendency be ? 

 How would they look upon the ties that bound them to the mother 

 land, situated as they were three thousand, eight thousand miles 

 away from the old country. Would not love slacken and desire and 

 appreciation deaden, and would not the contemplation of their own 

 growing power and limitless possibilities breed in them the desire to 

 set up housekeeping absolutely for themselves and on lines different 

 "from the mother country ? 



Well, fifty years have passed since the initial adventure, fifty 

 years in which the little confederacy of comparatively small extent 

 has grown into a broad country of almost illimitable extent and 

 equally illimitable resources; has done many things, though com- 

 mitting many blunders; has achieved many signal successes, and in 

 the plentitude of its power, its young might, its strength of fibre, 

 both moral and physical, has sent 400,000 of its sons to the European 

 fields of battle to fight for Empire, because that Empire combines 

 within itself the highest type of civilization, ideals that are as warm 

 in our hearts as they are in the hearts of the sons of the mother country 

 (applause). Canada now makes its manhood's claim to as high 

 heroism and as undaunted courage as history records from its dimest 

 period up to the present. (Applayse). Confederation has grown, 

 and the Empire has grown with it, and to-day the bonds of father- 

 ship and sonship are stronger, because there is merged into these 



